"Am I therefore become your enemy,because I TELL YOU THE TRUTH...?"
(Galatians 4:16)

SIGN of the TIMES:Drug-alcohol test kits offered to Jeannette parents

Jeannette's police department is the first in Pennsylvania to offer parents a Michigan company's urine and saliva tests to check their children at home for drug or alcohol use."The parents can come into a location and purchase drug testing kits at a reasonable price," said Jeannette police Chief Jeff Stahl. "We're not looking for arrests, we're just trying to give the parents another tool to protect their kids."The drug test costs $12 and the alcohol kit is $3. A $4 nicotine test may be stocked in the future.A simple urine test, which takes three to eight minutes, can indicate traces of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Stahl said the tests have an accuracy rate of 98 percent. The tests for alcohol and nicotine are based on a saliva swab. The test kits were developed by TDS Inc., of Livonia, Mich., which has clients in 17 states. This is the company's first foray into Pennsylvania."If you get them early and they don't do drugs, they're probably going to be drug-free and alcohol-free; at least they'll avoid addiction," said Dave Prichard, president of TDS. "This gives parents the ability in the privacy and safety of their own home to test kids if they felt there was a need."The police department will have no part in the administration or enforcement of the tests, which will be sold on condition of anonymity."We're making it available to the parents that feel they need it," Stahl said."They see a problem with their child and they don't want to make it known to the public. They don't know what to do. We're not taking anybody's names. We're not asking any questions. We don't care who purchases this or for what reason."Drug and alcohol testing kits also are available over the counter at some drug stores.Having a test kit in the home also can give a child the power to say no to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, Prichard said. "That's a huge relief where there's peer pressure," he said. "It gives that child an out."Other area agencies were intrigued by the program."You're hearing more and more about how parents need to talk to their children," said Colleen Hughes, executive director of the Westmoreland Alcohol and Drug Commission."If parents do start talking to their children and do not believe children are being honest, this could be a way children can be more honest. They may admit to it even before it gets to the point of testing."North Huntingdon Township police Chief Michael Daugherty contacted Stahl."It sounds like a great idea," Daugherty said. "We've tried some programs with the kids like DARE and haven't seen the success rate we'd like to.We're going to go to the parents.We're taking a different approach, and this will fit in right with it."Jeannette police will provide information on community resources that are available if parents get a positive result.Literature about signs and symptoms of tobacco, alcohol and drug use are included in the kit."If we help one family out, it's worth the time and effort," Stahl said.Jeannette City Council allotted $750 for the police department to start the program. Money from the sale of kits will be used to purchase additional test kits as needed.The test kits may be purchased at the Jeannette police department Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

As in the days of Noah...