Pubdate: Mon, 27 Mar 2006
Source: Daily Journal, The (MO)
Copyright: 2006 Daily Journal
Contact:  http://www.mydjconnection.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3148
Author: Amanda Medlock
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

EDGAR: LEAVE DRUG TESTING TO PROFESSIONALS

Area Business Warns Of Pitfalls For Parents Who Test Their Own
Children For Drugs

A recent poll involving 174 people on the Daily Journal Web site
showed 90 percent agreed that parents should test their children for
drug and substance abuse. Local parents who may not want to order kits
online are able to purchase the tests locally.

Occupational Drug and Alcohol Collection Services, or ODACS, Corporate
Medical Services is a local family owned and operated business
specializing in drug and alcohol testing for parents, schools, and
businesses, including testing of hair, urine, saliva, and SOS, or
residue testing.

ODACS also offers instant tests, which are available to parents for
purchase. However, Tim Edgar of ODACS discourages parents from testing
their children themselves.

"Our company is here to help parents handle all aspects of drug
testing. There is very little our company can't test in this area,"
said Edgar. "In 48 to 72 hours, many drugs are out of the child's
system, depending on the drug. There are different aspects and
different tests to suit each situation, including hair, urine, saliva
and surface testing. Not all instant tests offer results." Edgar says
there are not many parents who bring their children to be tested or
buy an instant test.

"There is little education behind handling and reading the tests,"
says Edgar. "A lot of the tests are faulty and many parents do not
read the tests correctly."

The concern that many parents are uneducated about the tests may lead
to false accusations of the children, positive or negative. Negative
accusations from tests, according to Edgar, have led to drastic
measures such as lawsuits and abuse cases.

"(I believe) parents, schools and employers just need to work together
as a team to deal with the drug problems. The schools need to educate
parents on the problem and a solution. If there is a drug problem with
the student there needs to be treatment and also counseling after the
fact," said Edgar. "Whether we admit it or not, drugs are becoming a
social problem and are affecting the lifestyles of people. What people
don't realize, is that if it affects one person, it affects everyone.
The decisions these people make will haunt them and their families the
rest of their lives, whether it's physical problems, such as
irreversible brain damage, or social problems. Society is going to pay
the price for the decisions these people make. It's a problem that has
long term effects and this problem is not being dealt with."
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MAP posted-by: Tom