Home Drug Test
Some parents may order a home drug test online if they are concerned that their son or daughter is using some type of drug. This may seem like a good idea, but a home drug test can also pose some problems.
One problem is the collection aspect. For urine drug tests, collection may be a problem; urine drug tests can be adulterated with other liquids that would interfere with the test. Hair drug tests may be easier to obtain. However, any type of home drug test may cause more harm than good with false positives or false negatives. False positives could result from something as simple as poppy seeds or cold medication, and accusations based on false positives could seriously damage the parent-child relationship. Conversely, false negatives (resulting from collection problems or home drug test kit defects) could make a parent think that everything is okay when, in fact, it is not.
A better solution than home drug testing is to get professional help for your child. A professional is better able to determine if a child has a drug problem, and better able to determine what kind of treatment is needed.
In conjunction with professional advice, it is important to pay close attention to your child and exhibit a genuine interest in his or her life. Spend time with your child; know what kind of activities he or she is involved in; know who his or her friends are; and make your house a haven for them to have their friends over so that you can meet their peers. Ask questions, but not just to look for signs of trouble—do your best to know your child and understand his or her feelings even during the turbulent times of adolescents. Even if the response is a roll of the eyes and a mutter of “Nothing,” your child will know that you care. See to it that your child is involved in sports or other extracurricular activities; teenagers who are busy are less likely to turn to drug use.
Disclaimer: Cliff Schaffer does not personally endorse or support any of the comments made within the writings of this article. |
