Drug Testing

Drug Testing at Home: Helping Parents Help Their Kids

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on February 1st, 2012

Being a parent is no easy task, and parents certainly need all the help they could get. When it comes to ensuring that kids are not using illegal drugs, the availability of home testing kits – and the fact that governments are willing to provide them to parents for free – is certainly a big help.

talking to teen about drug testingIn Missouri, for instance, parents can request for a free drug test to administer to their child in the privacy of their home. James Proctor, Resource Officer for Cameron High School in Cameron, Missouri, shared: “It’s an opportunity for parents to get a free drug test to give their child at home.” He shared further that the free drug test could be requested from the website TestMyTeen.com, which is being run by the state of Missouri.

The system is something that was implemented recently in Cameron. The rest of Missouri will also follow suit soon.

Kristi McIntosh, a health teacher and parent as well, shared: “I think it’s a good idea, that way they can know what their kids are into and can get them help if they need it.”

In addition to being able to help parents, Officer Proctor also pointed out that administering home drug tests may also serve as a deterrent for teens, in terms of giving in to peer pressure regarding drug use. Teens who get tested will be able to say “no” to peers who are trying to get them to do drugs, bringing up the fact that they are getting tested at home.

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Sen. Chuck Schumer Wants Drugged-Driving Tests

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing, Prescription Drug Abuse on January 31st, 2012

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer revealed that too many New Yorkers are driving under the influence of prescription drugs, with an increase of 35% in drugged driving arrests in New York state since 2001. In 2009, 10.5 million Americans admitted they had taken the wheel while on drugs.

drugged drivingWhile these numbers are still low compared to drunk driving arrests, the dangers of drugged driving are just as real. Without the proper tools, though, what the cops can do to catch drugged drivers is very limited.

“If people next year knew that they’d be tested for drugged driving just like they are tested for drunk driving, it might deter them from doing it to begin with and save lives,” Schumer said.

This is why he is pushing for legislation that would provide $140 million research and training funding to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, in order to develop tests that cops can use to detect drugged drivers as well as to train cops to use any new technology.

Current tests being used by cops can detect alcohol intoxication. There is presently no device or test used by cops that can detect drugged drivers.

“Our cops need state-of-the-art equipment and better training to identify and apprehend those who are putting innocent victims at risk,” he added.

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Volunteer Drug Testing Ready to Start at Olive Hill School

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on January 31st, 2012

Olive High School is ready to begin their volunteer drug testing program for students, with its “Screen and Clean” project. The project aims to help both parents and their kids by providing drug testing kits that can be used at home.

The funding of the program comes from the FEMA grant given to the community which was hit by floods to aid in their economic development. Yet when a survey was done in Olive Hill which asks citizens as to how to spend the money, many voiced out their concerns on the pain pill epidemic which has affected the youth in the area.

Some comments received say “we can’t recover or grow here without attacking the pain pill epidemic — and let’s start while they’re young.”

In fact, in West Carter High School, just about everyone knows somebody who is into drug addiction. This is why the Champions Against Drugs student organization is doing their share in fighting the epidemic by presenting anti-drugs skits in schools.

The program will provide drug testing kitsto parents who ask for them, and conduct school drug testing on students with both the parents’ and students’ consent. Students and parents are given the option to join the program or not.

“If there’s a party and kids are tempted to do drugs, and the parents might test them when they get home, they’ll think twice,” one student says.

Testing positive at home will have the student tested in a lab again. If it’s still positive, treatment and counseling will be offered to help in their problems. Legal and criminal liabilities are set aside to make way for more effective counseling.

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Bill Proposes Drug Testing of Florida State Employees

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on January 29th, 2012

A bill will require Florida state employees to undergo random drug testing is currently advancing through the Legislature. The drug testing bill is something that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has tried to impose since his inauguration.

drug free workplaceBased on information from Sen. Alan Hays (R-Umatilla), sponsor of Senate bill SB 1358, while state employees are just as at risk for drug abuse as the rest of the population, having them undergo testing will help those employees who need assistance overcome their personal struggle with drug abuse. Hays said: “It’s about protecting the state employees and the public.”

Sen. Jim Norman (R-Tampa), on the other hand, shared that everyone – including top administrators – should be open to undergoing random drug testing. He recalled his own experience, sharing: “When I became a county commissioner they had it in place in our county and when commissioners were elected our first action was to go down and be tested and I had no problem with that.”

In addition, Rep. Jimmie Smith (R-Inverness), sponsor of HB 1205, said that the bill is an effort towards changing society’s acceptance of drug use. He said: “The first drug-free workplace should be the one that taxpayers pay for.”

The ACLU of Florida, however, pointed out that government-mandated drug tests without suspicion or special safety considerations have been found to be in violation of the Fourth Amendment by the courts. Derek Newton, ACLU of Florida communications director, said: “Just three months ago, in an ACLU lawsuit, a federal judge ordered the state to stop enforcing last year’s law requiring Floridians applying for temporary assistance to submit to the humiliating government tests… And when the ACLU of Florida challenged Governor Scott’s executive order mandating random drug tests for state employees in court, he retreated, ordering most agencies to stop the unconstitutional program.”

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Springfield Police Offers Vouchers for Home Drug Testing Kits

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on January 28th, 2012

The Springfield Police Department in Missouri is providing parents with a way to determine whether their child is using illegal drugs or not.

Springfield police is offering vouchers for home drug testing kits, which have the ability to detect the presence of 10 illegal drugs, including marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine, in urine.

The organization TestMyTeen.com donated $5,000 worth of free testing kits, as part of its partnership with the Missouri Police Chiefs Association.

Cpl. Matt Brown, spokesman for the police department, shared: “Most parents truly believe that their kids would never do anything like that, but we in law enforcement see the other side… We interact everyday with teens who are taking drugs and their parents don’t know.”

Parents can use the drug testing kits to find out whether their teens are indeed using drugs, after observing that they seem to be exhibiting signs of drug abuse. In addition, the knowledge that parents will subject them to drug testing may discourage teens from giving in to peers who may be urging them to experiment with illegal substances.

The concept of using the threat of parental drug testing as a deterrent for teens against experimenting with drugs was supported by three teens who were interviewed by News-Leader. All the teens have been subjected to random drug testing prior to being allowed to participate in special academic and career programs.

The teens – Justin Whitley, Victoria Simpson, and Tabitha Crews – agreed, however, that parents should only turn to drug testing if they suspect that their teen is using drugs and all other steps to prevent the teen from doing so have failed.

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Most Schools Do Not Drug Test Teachers

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on January 28th, 2012

A recent survey was done from among the 14 district schools in central Wisconsin revealed that only three schools implement random or scheduled drug tests for newly hired employees to determine if they had drug encounters prior to their employment in their school.

teacherFrom the 5900 employed staff in 14 school districts, only 2325 underwent drug testing and passed before they were completely hired.

The issue of drug testing for school staff became controversial when several Antigo and Merrill school district employees were suspended last week after admitting to the Langlade County Sheriff’s Department that they engaged in marijuana use and selling in the recent months based on the court documents that were made available to the media.

D.C. Everest Area School District human resource director Kim Hall says that passing a drug test has become a very important factor when they offer jobs to prospective employees. “A drug screen can tell a lot about a candidate. We want good staff.”

On the other hand, Antigo school district does not require pre-hire drug tests. Only employees who are suspected or appear to be under the influence will be subjected to drug testing. Failing the test means an employee can be immediately fired from the job.

When other school districts were asked why they do not have a drug testing policy for employees, authorities said they did not see the need for such policy as they have never experienced having employees linked to any drugs issues.

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