Would you drug test your own child? As parents, we want to think that if we equip our kids with the necessary information about the evils of drug and alcohol use, they will always make the right decision and just say “no”. However, the reality of the situation is that no matter how effective you are as a parent, the possibility that your child will say “yes” is very real. It’s not a reflection on your parenting skills. Drug abuse affects families both rich and poor. It crosses all ethnic backgrounds and affects males as well as females. So would you drug test your children to keep them on the straight and narrow?
Kits are readily available for home use and some school districts are making it easy for parents to obtain one. In Janesville, Wisconsin, The Janesville School District will begin offering samples of home use kits to parents for $6.00. They are working with TestMyTeen, one of the many companies who offer kits online. The group is giving the school district 250 vouchers for joining its Alliance program. The $6.00 fee is for shipping costs. If parents wish to purchase more kits they can do so online, entering a code that will award the school district points that can then be redeemed to buy anti-drug promotional material.
Proponents have said that home testing gives parents some control over their children’s behavior and serves as a way for kids to “stand up against peer pressure.” They feel kids can tell their friends that they can’t take drugs because their parents are testing them.
Opponents of the testing have pointed out occasions of false positives, and that testing with or without your child’s consent could undermine the parent-child bond. Especially if parents test without probable cause. Also, there’s no evidence that testing will curb or eliminate drug use.
To answer my own question, I wouldn’t test unless there was overwhelming evidence that my child was using drugs. Many kids try drugs because of peer pressure and others continue using because drugs help them deal with problems in their lives. I have been stressing to Tyler that he should strive to be his own person, thinking for himself and making his own decisions. I also tell him that he can talk to be about anything. It is my hope that by keeping the lines of communication open this will be enough to deter my child from using drugs. And if he does, then I would try to get him help as soon as possible before it became habit-forming. It’s never to early to start talking to your kids about drugs. He’s only six but it’s possible that older kids in his school or kids in the neighborhood might try to entice him.
See also:
Talking to Your Kids About Drugs