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Most drug use begins with experimentation and recreational use during the teen years sometimes as early as 11 or 12 years-old; from there it often graduates into habituation, abuse, and dependence, that is, addiction. Not to mention all the negative and life impacting social problems that accompany. Each day, thousands of people enter addiction treatment programs and many of them are teens (most with compounding emotional problems).For the author and most addiction professionals (and many mental health professionals), the answer is unequivocally yes. The information gleaned from testing individuals of all ages for drug abuse is essential.
Obviously, prevention–before any substance use begins–is all important. But, since drug use is a part of our culture (not a good part) and it isn’t all that hard for teens to get a hold of drugs, sometimes prevention isn’t a realistic option. Public Schools do their best but often lack the trained staff (counselors) and suffer from dwindling funds to try and accomplish lofty but imperative task with. Now here's the caveat where parents come in.Ideally parents should create a supportive family/home culture where pre-teens and teens are comfortable talking with them about their lives. But society is complicated and today many parents face many issues that previous generations really didn’t have to face. Many simply don’t know their kids are doing drugs (or drinking) until there is already a problem. (Some parents are also abusing drugs or alcohol and can’t themselves model healthy behaviors). However, parents should not use testing to demean or show control over a child that shows no symptoms or signs of usage. Sometimes a functioning addict will feel so hypocritical about their own using that they won't try and intervene with their child even when things become obvious.
Parents should be educated on the signs of drug and alcohol abuse, and there are many parenting resources available. They should know that once they think they might have identified a problem, confrontation (especially when done incorrectly), doesn’t always work—teens might be embarrassed or too scared to tell their parents what they’ve been up to or they simply don’t want to stop abusing substances and prefer to rebel against their parents.
Therefore, home drug testing for children and teens, has become more and more popular. In fact, I see parents and their pre-teen and teenage children who’ve been abusing substances, in the course of my work and many times the parents have found out because of home drug tests.
The Pattern was established long before I was born. But For kids today, experimenting with alcohol and marijuana starts at a young age. That’s the “trap.” Starting perhaps with hanging out with older kids that were part of the wrong crowd. Their use went much broader than alcohol and marijuana. Eventually drug usage broadens, ultimately becoming a daily habit. Young addicts may repeatedly deny drug use to family, blowing off accusations such as changed behavior as growing pains.
But with all classes of street drugs there is a common pattern with the adolescents and young adults. The earlier children get help, the more successful the treatment rate. Most parents share with me that they wish they could have recognized the signs earlier, or a way to test their children.
How have parents responded to your products? How have teens responded?
While some parents approach home drug testing with skepticism, most show overwhelming support. Once they over come the fear and stigma.
What are the ethical issues involved in parents testing their children?
Asking your child to take a home drug test may be uncomfortable, but there’s nothing unethical about it. Parents are exercising good ethical, moral, and family Judgement by making sure their children are drug-free. Parents are reinforcing that they care about their child’s development and transition to adulthood.
Parents also need to know that they are allowed by law to test their children.
Right. Legally, there are no issues involved with drug testing your under-age child.
Are addiction treatment professionals supportive of the idea?
Yes. In my experience, most agree that early detection and treatment can keep a child out of treatment facilities for the rest of their life. Substance abuse is a potentially life-threatening problem so prevention and early detection are extremely important. On the other side of that coin, the younger a child is when they first begin to use mind altering substances; without treatment, the more less likely they are to seek and be successful in treatment as adults .Of course they are also more likely to be imprisoned and often involved in violent crime as well.
