Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Top parenting stories this week
Would you ever drug test your child?
Many parents are testing their kids for drug use. Is it a great way to keep them safe, or a serious breach of trust?
by: Nancy Ripton
In This Article
Teen Drug Testing
- Half of all 12th graders in North America have used illegal drugs.
- Increasing numbers of parents are submitting their teens to random urine, saliva and hair follicle tests.
- Some parents believe at-home drug tests provide children with a socially acceptable reason to say no to drugs.
- Others say drug testing breaks the parent/child trust bond.
- Hair follicle testing is the most accurate method of testing–it detects the amount of drug use over a 90-day period.
nd you thought your toddler was trouble–just wait ’til he’s a teen. The latest parenting trend is taking a page from the Olympics as worried parents submit their teens to random drug testing. Is this an unforgivable betrayal of trust, or a justifiable way to protect your child from harm?
More kids are saying “yes” to drugs
Drug use is probably not top of mind as you register your children for nursery school or JK, but you may find yourself faced with this troubling issue early on in their academic career.
A recent study published in the Education Law Reporter found that half of all 12th graders admitted to using illegal drugs at least once in their lifetime, while 18 percent use marijuana on at least a monthly basis. Just as alarming is the abuse of prescription medications–one in 10 high school seniors report non-medical use of prescription painkillers, such as Vicodin.
