At-home drug testing kits gain popularity among parents

By Staff Writer

An uncertain economy hasn't affected the sale of take-home drug testing kits, according to MyNorthWest.com.

Carl Mongiovi, the vice president of San Diego-based Phamatech, told the news provider that sales for these kits are up 26 percent this year. If the drug kits come back positive, the company will test to determine what kind of drug the individual was using.

Some test kits are designed to detect the use of single drugs such as marijuana or cocaine, while some can trace the presence of multiple substances. The tests, which typically cost up to $40, are growing in popularity among parents who are concerned about their teenagers' unhealthy behavior.

Some substance abuse experts believe that at-home drug kits are not a good idea because many parents are not equipped to do the tests correctly. In addition, a test can strain family relationships because teens may feel like their parents do not trust them.

A drug counselor in Seattle said that he can understand why a child would feel betrayed, but a test could lead to an early intervention and potentially save lives.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that mental health problems, including depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal and other psychosocial dysfunctions, are frequently linked to substance abuse among adolescents.