Won’t drug testing make my child feel like I don’t trust him?

That’s much less likely if you approach the subject in the right way. Start the conversation by telling him you know he’s going to face this pressure sooner or later, and that you remember how uncomfortable it can be to resist peer pressure. Then say you’ve found a way to help him. Explain how this lets him make you the “bad guy,” and just gives him an easier way out of the situation if he needs it.

And be sure and tell him that you’re not the slightest bit concerned any of the tests will ever come back positive. This is just your way of giving him some extra strength and support in difficult situations.

Isn’t drug testing an invasion of my child’s privacy?

Let’s face it: kids this age are just starting to assert their independence. Some balk when you try to help with homework, some pitch a fit if you even ask if homework has been done! So it’s possible that your child may accuse you of invading his privacy by drug testing him.

There are several important things to remember, and to remind your child, regarding this question:

      1. You are the parent. It’s your responsibility to keep your child safe. You feed him, clothe him and provide all the things he needs. This gives you the right and the responsibility to know what he’s doing.
      2. You’re the one that will have to pay any medical or legal bills that will result from any drug use on his part.

And of course, you’re not doing this because you expect him to ever test positive. You’re doing this solely to help him resist difficult pressure.

I had my own experiments or problems with drugs as a teen. How do I tell my kids not to do something I did? Won’t they say I’m being a hypocrite?

Not if you are open and honest with your child. In fact, you probably know better than anyone why they should stay away from drugs and alcohol. As you explain the dangers to your children, tell them that you understand the pressure they’ll be under because you felt it too. And that you gave in, and wish you hadn’t.

Let them benefit from your experience, and maybe they won’t need to learn the hard way from their own.

When should I test my child?

Many parents choose to drug test their child at least once each month on a random, unannounced basis, from age 13 to age 18. This helps to ensure that your child does not become complacent about the tests, and that your testing program is taken seriously. (These are the same reasons that employers choose to randomly test their employees on a regular basis). Random testing puts “teeth” in your home drug testing program!

What do I do if my child tests positive?

First of all, don’t panic! Drug tests are just an initial test – it is possible to get a false positive result. The last thing you want to do is have a confrontation with your child, only to find out on further testing that the results were a mistake.

Any time you have a preliminary positive result, the test should be sent to a lab for confirmation.

But first, calmly show your child the results of the test and ask him what he thinks about the results. Tell him you’ll be sending the test to a lab to have it confirmed. In most cases, when confronted with a positive test result, the child will confess if actual drug use has occurred, and further testing isn’t necessary.

What if my child has taken an over-the-counter or prescription drug? Could that cause a preliminary positive result?

Yes! If the confirmation test is positive, an MRO (Medical Review Officer) will contact you to discuss the possible causes of the positive test.

Remember, the primary purpose of the drug test kit is as a PREVENTION tool. We believe that the potential of being tested, along with your good parenting skills will be enough of a deterrent to help your child decide to remain drug and alcohol free. The majority of tests are negative, and therefore do not need confirmation or MRO services. Again, it is the threat of the test that makes this an excellent prevention tool.

How long do specific drugs stay in a person’s system?

There are many variables. The average length of time for common street drugs is two-to-three days. The average window of detection for marijuana is about 12 hours using saliva-based test kits, so testing should usually take place at a minimum on weekend mornings and the morning after school holidays. 

If it is determined that the test is positive because of illegal drug use, what do I do next?

We can provide you with a list of treatment and counseling centers in your area (free of charge) and free access to our online counseling resource center. In the case of a positive test, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs recommends that you seek qualified medical treatment and/or counseling services for your child and your family.

Do I Really Need To Drug Test My Child?

I hear this question all the time from parents. Nearly all of them are good parents who’ve done everything they can to protect their children. And so they have a hard time believing that something so ugly as drug or alcohol abuse could ever be an issue in their families.

I have a lot of sympathy for parents like these because I used to be just like them.

I, too, did everything I knew to protect my children – and now, I do even more for the two who are still at home.

But it’s my oldest son who I’d like to tell you about. You see, we made sure he grew up in a nice neighborhood. He went to a good school and liked going to church. In fact, if for some reason I hadn’t taken him to church he would have found a ride with someone else – he just loved it that much.

So I never would have dreamed that drugs could touch him in this environment.

Today, my son is 25 , and I haven’t heard from him in over two years. I don’t know where he is. I have no idea if he is alive or dead.

I know now that when he was only 13 – right in the middle of our nice, safe neighborhood – one of the neighbor kids introduced him to marijuana. They started smoking it together nearly every day right at the end of our street.

If I had been randomly drug testing my son, or if we had the Family Policy against drugs that The Council on Alcohol and Drugs recommends, my son might never have taken the first hit. If he had, I would have found out about it in time to help him.

Instead, I lie awake at night and pray that he’s OK, and that someday he’ll find his way home.

So do you really need to drug test your children? Well, I can’t make that decision for you. But I can tell you that I drug test mine – even though they saw what drugs did to their stepbrother – and hate drugs with a passion.

Because I’m not taking any chances. And I hope you won’t, either.

Chuck Wade