Pubdate: Thu, 27 Apr 2006
Source: Sun-Times, The (AR)
Copyright: 2006 The Sun Times
Contact:  http://www.thesuntimes.com/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

IS YOUR CHILD ABUSING DRUGS?

Are your kids more distant than they used to be?  Do they seem tired 
all the time and moody, yet when asked if something is wrong, insist 
they're okay and storm off? If so, they may be dealing with more than 
just growing pains.  They could be abusing drugs.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 50 percent of 
students will have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high 
school. Statistics show that in 2005, 6.9 percent of 8th graders, 
11.4 percent of 10th graders and 13.9 percent of 12th graders had 
used sedatives, tranquilizers or narcotic drugs other than heroin in 
the past 12 months.

What can you do to prevent your children from falling into the ugly 
trap of drug abuse? Experts say you should educate yourself about 
what's out there, talk to your children early and often about the 
dangers of drugs, know the warning signs of abuse and let your kids 
know you plan to test them for drugs on a regular basis.

"Drug testing sends a strong message to the child that substance 
abuse will not be tolerated.  It also provides them with an excuse 
they can give a peer for not wanting to participate," says Dr. Amelie 
Ramirez, a public health physician.

So how do you go about helping your child stay drug free without 
antagonizing them?  A good resource to turn to for advice is 
www.HomeDrugTestingKit.com, a Web site developed to offer parents an 
avenue to handle possible substance abuse in their home before 
government steps in due to an arrest or other life event.

The site contains such helpful information as a glossary of common 
street drug terms;   specifics about the physical and mental health 
dangers associated with the use of various drugs; and a downloadable 
30-page pamphlet called "Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free" from the Office 
of National Drug Control Policy.  There's also a link you can click 
on to order a home drug testing kit.

"A big part of what we do is educational," says company president 
Amanda Beihl. "There are still a lot of people who don't know these 
types of products exist.  The Home Drug Testing Kit screens for a 
variety of substances -- including  marijuana, cocaine, 
methamphetamines, opiates, PCP and nicotine -- through the use of a 
testing card that is dipped in a urine sample.  Results are delivered 
within three to five minutes.

A basic single substance test costs $3.  Two, three and five 
substance tests are also available. If it's alcohol you want to 
measure, for less than a dollar a test, the Guardian Angel Personal 
Alcohol Test is available in packages of 2 or 4 individual test 
strips.  Simply place a test strip on the teen's tongue to determine 
their blood alcohol level.

To learn more about preventing drug abuse, or to place an order for a 
Home Drug Testing Kit or a Guardian Angel Alcohol Test, log on to 
www.homedrugtestingkit.com.er
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman