Pubdate: Sun, 28 Dec 2008
Source: Bucks County Courier Times (PA)
Copyright: 2008 Calkins Newspapers. Inc.
Contact: http://www.phillyburbs.com/feedback/content_cti.shtml
Website: http://www.phillyburbs.com/couriertimes/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1026
Author: Jenna Portnoy
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

BUCKS POISED TO OFFER DRUG TEST KITS TO PARENTS

Bucks County is one step closer to expanding a program  developed in 
Middletown to offer low-cost drug test  kits to parents.

Marge Hanna, executive director of the Bucks County  Drug and Alcohol 
Commission, told commissioners on Dec.  17 that her agency will work 
with community partners to  figure out how it could be sold to parents.

Officials have yet to decide which agency will  distribute the 
equipment, but the program will mimic  one started in Middletown a 
few years ago. They'll be  available in locations throughout the 
county at a low  cost and include an educational brochure and 
parent  guide, said Diane Rosati, associate director of the  commission.

"It's certainly another tool for parents who might want  to deter 
drug use in their children or intervene at  some point," she said.

The one-step urine tests yield results in five minutes  and can 
detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy,  PCP, antidepressants and 
a slew of other drugs, Penndel  District Judge Daniel Baranoski said.

The commission will likely update the brochure  currently included 
with each kit, "just to be sure any  resources provided are accurate 
and available to all  residents," Rosati said. The commission will 
also  conduct some additional research to make sure the test  being 
used is the best one on the market.

"We're in favor of moving this forward as the  commissioners are and 
we're looking for a county  partnership to do this," she said. "Once 
the  commissioners make a final decision, it should be up  and 
running within a few months."

Joe Funk, the county's human services director, said he  will consult 
the county solicitor about liability  concerns, in cooperation with 
the commission, and the  related nonprofit Bucks County Council on 
Alcohol and  Drug Dependency.

Commissioner Diane Marseglia, who developed the program  with 
Baranoski, said she would prefer a county agency,  like the health 
department, distribute the kits.

That way, she said, residents would not have to "jump  through hoops" 
to purchase a kit or pay more to cover  administrative costs. But she 
said she welcomed the  drug and alcohol commissions' input.

"I think we do need them in terms of the information  they can 
provide in the pamphlets that are included,"  Marseglia said.

The program remains popular in Middletown, where  Baranoski said 60 
kits were sold the week before  Christmas. The testing program is 
dubbed Parental DUTY,  which stands for Defy Use - Test Youth.

The inventory is sold out, but more kits should be  available before 
the new year, Baranoski said. Prices  will temporarily revert back to 
an earlier cost - $5  for township residents; $10 for nonresidents - 
due to  limited supplies.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom