Drug Testing

Parents Dealing with Child’s Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Rehabilitation, Drug Testing on January 5th, 2012

Statistics on drug abuse in the year 2011 proves to be very alarming especially for parents. For the fourth straight year, marijuana use among high school seniors increased. In the same student population, 50% of them admitted to using illicit drugs at some point in their young lives while 40% of them are already into one or more types of drug abuse in the past year alone.

child drug abuseUnfortunately, not all drug abuse cases get the necessary treatment or therapy. More than 23 million people in America are hooked on drug and alcohol use, yet only 2.6 million receive the help that they need to sober up again.

When this problem occurs in the family especially on kids, parents should be ready and equip themselves to be able to deal with the situation. When parents suspect their child is into drug use, it’s best to have him immediately tested. Parents can purchase drug testing kits for their children or acquire the services of professionals in doing the process.

Kids are not the only ones who need help with drug problems. Parents too need the proper information and support to better handle their kids’ problems. The more parents learn about the condition of their kids, the more they are able to help them get better. There are many organizations that offer their services to help parents in complicated situations.

It is necessary to have the parent-child talk, but it should be done at the right time and place. Do not attempt to talk to kids when they are under the influence or when there are other people that could hear your conversation. Yet it is important that the talk should be made at the soonest possible time before things get worse.

Parents should never let shame or fear get in the way of helping their child. After all, there are other families who experience the same problem and resolving the problem is much more important than keeping family reputation.

No Comments

Parent Disagrees to Drug Testing Plans of School District

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on December 22nd, 2011

After reports of alleged drug use at Warrenton High School, the discipline committee of the Warren County R-III School District is still at odds on whether random drug testing should be implemented in the area. But for parent Jill Beedy, drug testing should not be done in schools. It should be something done by the police and not by the school district.

drug free zoneWhile there were some parents who favored the policy during last November’s school community meeting, Breedy is strongly against it. The concerned parent said that what she saw during the presentation was not focused on keeping kids away from drugs, but instead was scaring the students. “We’re talking about striking fear into our students and we shouldn’t be doing that,” she said.

School District Superintendent Dr. Tom Muzzey admits there is still much to be discussed before the board comes out with a decision on drug testing matters. While he acknowledges Breedy’s effort to voice out the concerns of parents on the issue, he has a different perception when it comes to the school district’s role in implementing random drug testing. “I think the district has the responsibility to make sure the practices and policies are reflective of community norms and values,” Muzzey stated.

A question raised by Breezy pertains to how the board can ensure that the testing will be done randomly, if implementation is approved. “How exactly does the school district pick who gets tested? How is the R-III district not held liable for who they choose to test?”

Muzzey answers that the board will be acquiring the services of a private firm to keep the process at random or they could opt to use a software program for the procedure.

The superintendent also assured the community that they are open to the opinions of parents and the community as a whole with regards to the implementation of the random drug testing before everything will be finalized.

No Comments

District Employees to Possibly Undergo Drug Testing

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on December 21st, 2011

Tahlequah Public Schools may soon require district employees to undergo drug testing. The need to drug test will be based on “reasonable suspicion.”

drug testingThe revised policy now includes the clause that a superintendent may ask for a drug test if there is reasonable suspicion that an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The analogy given is that of a police officer pulling a driver over with the suspicion of driving under the influence. The police will then conduct a sobriety test to confirm any of their suspicions.

TPS superintendent Shannon Goodsell explained how the policy will be implemented if approved. “[Under the proposal], the school district has the right to suspect that you might have consumed something that you shouldn’t have consumed, and we have the right to ask you to now go and submit to a drug test.”

As expected, the proposal was met with criticisms from different departments.

School board member Luke Foster airs his concern on the possibility of violating employees’ civil rights, and that superintendents could disregard the initial condition that needs to be satisfied before asking an employee to submit to a drug test.

Goodsell suggested that before the go signal is given for policy implementation, proper training and guidelines on identifying candidates for drug testing must be in place.

The revised policy has also included provisions against child abuse and neglect. This will be very useful for abuse and neglect cases to be reported immediately to the proper authorities.

No Comments

Sen. Tim Schaffer Explains Need to Drug Test Welfare Recipients

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on December 9th, 2011

Sen. Tim Schaffer, R-Lancaster, wants to ensure that tax money doesn’t go to drug dealers. He is sponsoring the bill which requires cash-assistance beneficiaries to undergo drug testing before they can receive their state benefits.

drug testThe proposed bill has had its share of criticisms, but Sen. Schaffer hopes the bill to become the precedent for all drug testing programs for welfare benefits.

Schaffer’s bill contains a pilot program which will be implemented in three volunteer counties. The process will require each adult in a household to take an assessment to determine if there is reasonable cause to believe a person is into illicit drug abuse.

Individuals who pass the assessment will have no problem applying for cash assistance through the Ohio First Works Program. Those who fail the assessment will be further required to undergo drug testing. If they test negative for drugs, then all benefits will continue and the amount they spent on the drug test will be reimbursed.

Ohio Poverty Law Center director Gene King does not see eye to eye with the senator regarding the issue. King says the bill simply isn’t justifiable especially in households where kids are included. “If there are five people including the adult, but the assistance will be based on a group of four, the parent will still eat, the cash assistance will be used as it always was, there will just be less of it,” he said.

In Ohio, $271 million is reserved for cash assistance initiatives. For every four dollars given to the beneficiaries, three dollars come from the state tax while the remaining one dollar comes from the federal government.

No Comments

Drug and Alcohol Testing Implemented in Corinth City for a Safe Workplace

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on November 28th, 2011

In Corinth City, new job applicants will be required to take a drug and alcohol test before taking on their posts, and employees who get implicated in accidents will also be made to take the same test.

drug testing at workThe city has approved a drug-and alcohol-free policy which will focus on illegal drugs and other substances including prescribed medications as well as alcoholic beverages that can affect an employee’s performance on the job.

The provisions in the new policy puts a number of jobs under the drug testing process before employment could start. These positions include law enforcement personnel who carry live ammunitions; firefighters; city employees who are required to operate vehicles, equipment, or machinery; emergency medical technicians; employees who travel outside of the city; and non-clerical personnel who are directly involved in handling drugs and other paraphernalia in official drug cases.

The city also used the new policy to uphold values such as integrity, honesty, and safety among workers in and out of the workplace. Aside from requiring employees to submit to drug testing, using or bringing of alcohol and other illicit drugs is also strictly prohibited in the workplace during working hours. Any employee indicted or convicted of a criminal case related to illegal drugs or alcohol will automatically be barred from going back to work.

Employees who get into accidents or discharge their firearm will also be asked to get a drug test. The policy also includes random testing of employees. The process will have to be approved by the city board upon the recommendation of a supervisor. It will then involve 25% of covered employees to submit to drug testing annually, while another 10% will be made to go through alcohol testing every year too.

No Comments

District 95 School Board Disapproves Drug Testing Policy

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing on November 22nd, 2011

The Lake Zurich Community District 95 School Board has voted against the drug testing policy that was supposed to be implemented in the schools in their area. After a year of discussions and debates of those who are for and against the policy, the school board who voted last week finally sealed the fate of the proposal.

drug testingIn last month’s survey, it was revealed that 1,912 residents or 76% of the respondents did not agree to the provisions of the policy which prompted the board to vote against it.

People like Dan Fewkes, who initially supported random drug testing policy but later became a strong anti-drug test advocate, were pleased with the board’s decision. He said that while there may be a very big problem on drug abuse especially among students, Fewkes believes that there are other ways to address the growing problem.  “The school board and the administration have the ear of the community right now, as to what we are going to do about this; now is the time to do something,” Fewkes said.

The majority voted against the implementation of the random drug testing for varied reasons. Some said it was a clear violation of the student’s and their parent’s rights, while others said it was not fair as it will only target students who are  into extra-curricular activities or those with parking spaces. Some also doubt the method of drug testing.

For board member Kathleen Wallis, what the board did was listen to the community upon voting, and this should be reason enough for the residents to cooperate with them in solving the problem at hand.

Resident Jim Cairo pledged that he will continue to support the board in coming up with more programs against drug abuse. “I don’t think this policy was the right thing, but I don’t think we should be against the administration for trying something. I think we have to find the right process–I think education is the best way to reach these kids,” he said.

No Comments