If you think your teen is using drugs, you may have thought about using a home drug test. While this might seem like a simple and quick way to get an answer, drug tests are not always reliable, and your teen may resent being tested.
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Remember that your teen's doctor can help assess whether your teen has a drug problem, so a lab test is not always needed. However, if a drug test is recommended, your teen should know about it. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes drug tests without a teen's knowledge and consent. Also, in many states, teens can choose whether to share results with their parents.
Drug tests most commonly test urine. A Breathalyzer may be used to test for alcohol use. However, it will not detect other substances. Also, many body tissues and fluids can be tested for drug use, like hair, saliva, nails, and sweat. Some of these alternatives show promise but need to be refined. For instance, hair tests do not detect recent drug use. Hair color and type or secondhand marijuana smoke may also skew hair test results.
A chemical analysis of urine, or urinalysis, is the most common drug test. But the test has limits and should be confirmed by more specific tests. Here are pitfalls parents should consider.
The test may not detect all illicit drugs. Most routine urine tests do not catch LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), ketamine, ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), inhalant, or anabolic steroid use. Use of these substances is very uncommon, but parents should be aware of this limitation. They also may not detect alcohol, the substance teens are most likely to use.
Test results may be false negatives. Most drugs are detectable for only a short time after they are used and can be flushed from the person's system in as few as 12 hours. Within 2 or 3 days, many of these drugs are undetectable. One exception is marijuana. Teens who have been using heavily (daily or nearly daily) can have a positive test result for 2 to 3 weeks or longer (up to 6 weeks in some reports) after quitting.
Test results may be false positives. For instance, routine urine test results may show marijuana use days—or even weeks—after your teen has quit using the drug. Also, sinus or allergy medicines and poppy seeds (from poppy seed bagels or muffins) may affect test results. On rare occasions, antibiotics may affect test results.
The court system or your teen's school may require a drug test. While still a controversial policy, many schools screen young athletes for drug use. Some private schools test all their students. Urine tests also may help teens who are receiving drug treatment to stay away from drugs.
If drug testing is requested, you and your teen's doctor should work together with the school to make a reasonable plan for your teen.
Your teen's doctor may be able to identify drug use by asking you and your teen questions. However, the doctor will likely want to speak with each of you privately. Although you may want to be with your teen, let the doctor talk with your teen alone and in strict confidence. Keep in mind that your teen's doctor will tell you if your teen is at immediate risk of being harmed or causing harm.
If a drug test is recommended or required,
You and your teen's doctor can work together to ensure you get reliable lab results.
Make sure your teen's sample is carefully collected and handled by an experienced, certified lab.
Guard against human error.
Remember that a lab test is just one measure of drug use. Your teen's doctor will also consider your teen's behavior, report, and physical exam, as well as your report, so test results can be interpreted in context.
You may need to use consequences like suspending driving privileges or grounding, if your teen refuses a recommended test.
American Academy of Pediatrics
www.aap.org and www.HealthyChildren.org
National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.drugabuse.gov
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
www.samhsa.gov
Teen drug use is a serious problem. You do not have to handle it alone. Treatment works. Do not be afraid to seek professional help from your teen's doctor or a counselor, support group, or treatment program. They can help you provide the support that is so crucial to the success of any treatment program.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
In all aspects of its publishing program (writing, review, and production), the AAP is committed to promoting principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Any websites, brand names, products, or manufacturers are mentioned for informational and identification purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP is not responsible for the content of external resources. Information was current at the time of publication. The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
Want more information on Drug Of Abuse Tests? Feel free to contact us.
Drugs are chemical substances that can change how your body and mind work. A drug test looks for signs of one or more illegal drugs or certain prescription medicines that can be misused. The test is usually done with a sample of your urine (pee). Less commonly, drug testing uses a sample of your blood, saliva (spit), hair, sweat, fingernails, or breath. The purpose of a drug test is to look for drug use and misuse, which includes:
A drug test can check for a single drug or for a group of drugs in your body. Drug tests commonly test for:
Drug tests can find signs of drugs that you took hours to several days or more before the test. How long a drug lasts in your body depends on:
Other names: drug screen, drug test, drugs of abuse testing, substance abuse testing, toxicology screen, tox screen, sports doping tests
Drug testing is used to find out whether you have been using or misusing one or more drugs but can't diagnose a drug use disorder (addiction).
A drug test may be used for different purposes, including:
Drug testing may be scheduled ahead of time or done randomly without notice.
You may be asked to take a drug test for a job, to participate in certain organized sports, or as part of a police investigation or court case. In a hospital emergency room, a health care provider may order a drug test if you have signs of a possible drug overdose. Newborns can also be tested for possible prenatal exposure to illegal drugs.
Drug testing may be done in many different locations, including labs, hospitals, drug treatment centers, and workplaces.
Urine is the most commonly used sample for drug testing. You will be given instructions for how to collect your sample. In certain cases, a health care professional or other person may need to be present while you provide your sample. This is to make sure the urine is yours and isn't contaminated with anything that might affect the test results.
If a blood sample is used to test for drugs, a health care professional will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm, using a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood will be collected into a test tube or vial. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out. This usually takes less than five minutes.
Be sure to tell the testing professional if you are taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, or supplements, because these substances may affect your test results. Also, you should avoid foods with poppy seeds, which can show up as opiates in a drug test.
There are no known physical risks to having a drug test. But if drugs show up in your results, it may affect your job, your eligibility to play sports, the outcome of a legal matter, or other parts of your life.
Before you take a drug test, make sure you know:
If you have questions or concerns about a drug test, talk with your provider or the person or organization that is asking for the test.
If a drug test result is positive, it means that one or more drugs were found in amounts that suggest drug use or misuse. If you have a positive test result, you'll usually have a follow-up test to make sure the first test was correct. That's because the type of urine testing that's often done first can have false positive results.
A false positive means that the test showed you had a drug in your sample when it really wasn't there. False positives can happen if the test reacts with other chemicals in your body from certain over-the-counter medicines, prescriptions, and foods.
The follow-up drug test after a false positive result is called a confirmatory test. It is a more sensitive test that provides more accurate results.
If a drug test result is negative, it means that either:
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
If you test positive for a legal drug prescribed by your provider, your employer can't punish you, unless the drug is affecting your ability to perform your job.
If you test positive for marijuana and live in a state where it is legal, employers may still be able to punish you in some states. Employers may do this because they want a drug-free workplace. Also, marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
You can buy home tests for many illegal and prescription drugs. There are two types of tests:
When using home tests, be careful to follow all the instructions. It's best to talk with your provider about using home drug testing so you can decide if it's right for your situation.
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website HAV Rapid Test.