How can a child test positive for drugs

Drug Testing in Child Welfare

Drug testing is a tool that can be used to determine if a parent is using substances and to facilitate decision making with families affected by substance use disorders. Drug testing refers to the use of biologic sources, such as urine, saliva, sweat, hair, breath, blood, and meconium to identify specific substances or their metabolites in an individual’s system. However, drug tests do not provide enough information for substantiating allegations of child abuse or neglect or for making decisions about the disposition of a case. The most effective way to identify a substance use disorder or determine if a child is at risk for maltreatment or neglect is to use a combination of screening and assessment tools, including safety and risk assessments: clinical instruments, random drug testing, self-reports, and observations of behavioral indicators. Assuming there are no other safety concerns, a positive drug test or a series of positive drug tests should not be used as the sole factor in the removal of a child from the home or to determine parental visitation. For more information on identifying substance use disorders, visit NCSACW’s Screening and Assessment webpage.

Highlighted Resource
- Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol
  
  (PDF 11.5 MB)
  
  National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2021
  Brief 1: This resource offers key steps for child welfare agency policymakers to consider when developing a drug testing policy for child welfare practice.
  View Document Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol, 2021
- Brief 2: Drug Testing for Parents Involved in Child Welfare: Three Key Practice Points
  
  (PDF 10. 9 MB)
  
  National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2021
  Brief 2: This resource provides practice considerations to help child welfare workers implement drug testing into their daily practice.
  View Document Brief 2: Drug Testing for Parents Involved in Child Welfare: Three Key Practice Points, 2021

Expand All | Collapse All
- (PDF 11.5 MB)
  
  National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2021
  Brief 1: This resource offers key steps for child welfare agency policymakers to consider when developing a drug testing policy for child welfare practice.
  View Document Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol, 2021
- (PDF 10. 9 MB)
  
  National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2021
  Brief 2: This resource provides practice considerations to help child welfare workers implement drug testing into their daily practice.
  View Document Brief 2: Drug Testing for Parents Involved in Child Welfare: Three Key Practice Points, 2021
- (PDF 496 KB)
  
  National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2019
  Child welfare professionals can use this technical assistance tool to access information about identifying and addressing substance use disorders by parents involved with child welfare services, including signs and symptoms, screening practices, and referral for assessment.
  View Document Understanding Screening and Assessment of Substance Use Disorders – Child Welfare Practice Tips
- (PDF 92 KB)
  
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2010
  This publication provides child welfare policymakers with information about developing practice and policy protocols on the use of drug testing in child welfare practice. This guidance describes the practice and policy issues that policymakers must address to include drug testing in the comprehensive assessment and monitoring that child welfare agencies provide.
  View Document Drug Testing in Child Welfare: Practice and Policy Considerations
- (PDF 919 KB)
  
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2012
  Guidance about implementing drug testing for clinical practitioners such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in primary care offices and community health center settings is presented in this Technical Assistance Publication.
  View Document TAP 32: Clinical Drug Testing in Primary Care
- National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2022
  This live webinar hosted by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) provides information about developing a drug testing policy for child welfare agencies. As parental substance use affects many families who come to the attention of child welfare, drug testing is one tool child welfare often uses as a component of their assessment procedures when working with parents. Developing clear and consistent drug testing policy and practice protocols can be challenging. Coordinating and collaborating with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers and the courts can support child welfare’s development of policies and protocols. The session features two new NCSACW resources:
  - Brief 1: Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol (PDF 11.6 MB)
  - Brief 2: Drug Testing for Parents Involved in Child Welfare: Three Key Practice Points (PDF 10.9 MB)
  The session also features key action steps to develop a child welfare drug testing policy, strategies to mitigate challenges child welfare agencies encounter when developing drug testing policies and protocols, and important practice points in the use of drug testing while working with families affected by SUDs.
  Presenter(s):
  - - Kim Bishop, MSW, LICSW – Deputy Program Director, National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
    - Latonya Adjei-Tabi, MPA, CDCA – Senior Program Associate, National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
    - Katherine Guffey, MSW – Executive Consultant to the Director, Arizona Department of Child Safety
    - Kim Ruble, MA, LSW – Child Welfare Supervisor of Recovery Services, Trumbull (OH) County Children’s Services
    - Jay M. Wurscher, CADC – Alcohol and Drug Services Coordinator, Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS), Office of Child Welfare Programs
  Watch Video Considerations for Developing a Child Welfare Drug Testing Policy and Protocol
- American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2019
  ASAM developed this document to provide guidance about the effective use of drug testing in the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of recovery for patients with, or at risk for, addiction. ASAM also provides eLearning, infographics, and written materials to support sound practices.
  Visit Website The ASAM Appropriate Use of Drug Testing in Clinical Addiction Medicine
- (PDF 888 KB)
  
  The Arizona Statewide Task Force on Preventing Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Other Drugs, 2016
  Created to address a growing concern for the care and safety of substance-exposed newborns in Arizona and nationwide, these guidelines provide best-practice resources for nursing staff, social services, and medical staff to provide a consistent approach and avoid potential bias in the identification of these newborns. Included is information about improving the ability of healthcare providers to effectively identify at-risk pregnancies and substance-exposed newborns and to standardize recommendations in screening, treatment, and management.
  View Document Guidelines for Identifying Substance-Exposed Newborns
- (PDF 109 KB)
  
  Indiana Department of Child Services, 2018
  This chapter of the Indiana Child Welfare Policy Manual outlines the drug screening policies and procedures that may be carried out as a component of a comprehensive family assessment when there is an allegation of substance abuse or an indication that substance use may be a factor in the case.
  View Document Indiana Child Welfare Policy: Drug Screening in Assessments
- (PDF 109 KB)
  
  Indiana Department of Child Services, 2018
  This chapter of the Indiana Child Welfare Policy Manual outlines drug screening policies and procedures that may be carried out during the ongoing permanency phase of the case. The Indiana Department of Child Services developed a therapeutic treatment approach with the family to continually address substance use as it relates to child maltreatment throughout a permanency case.
  View Document Indiana Child Welfare Policy: Drug Screening in Permanency Case Management
- (PDF 90 KB)
  
  Kentucky Safe Families in Recovery, Practice Guidelines Workgroup, 2018
  Created by the Kentucky In-Depth Technical Assistance Practice Guidelines workgroup, the white paper provides basic information on drug testing, as well as recommendations on the use of drug test results and other indicators of substance use. The report discusses considerations to determine risk when a parent tests positive for prescription medications, including those prescribed for medication-assisted treatment.
  View Document Kentucky Drug Testing White Paper
- (PDF 90 KB)
  
  Iowa Children’s Justice State Council, 2011
  This bench card was developed to assist the courts in understanding and evaluating drug testing practices.
  View Document Iowa Drug Testing Practice Guidelines Bench Card

Should You Drug Test Your Child?

As a parent searching for answers, you may be considering drug testing with the expectation that it will discourage your child from experimenting with drugs, hopefully preventing a world of hurt down the road. If you suspect your child is already using substances, you may assume that testing will discourage experimental use before it escalates into serious use or addiction. However, many experts recommend against drug testing our kids unless it is done by a medical professional, and only when it is truly warranted.

Drug testing your child: the challenges

What about timing?

Timing is tricky because various drugs react very differently. For example, marijuana leaves the system slowly and may result in positive tests for several days or even a month, depending on the amount and frequency of use. On the other hand, cocaine, heroin and meth generally clear the system very quickly, usually in one to three days.

With that in mind, should you test once a week or more often? On Monday mornings? The day after a party or social event? Random tests provide the element of surprise, but they also present the possibility that your timing will be off and your child will test negative, even if they have used during the past few days.

Is testing an invasion of my kid’s privacy?

The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that testing can be an invasive breach of trust that may damage the relationship between parent and child. If not done correctly, you may be viewed as a police officer rather than a parent, which does little to promote a healthy, trusting relationship. Regaining lost trust with a son or daughter who feels betrayed is never easy.

In general, it’s risky to test your child without a really good reason. A kid who has no intention of experimenting with drugs or alcohol will understandably resent the lack of trust indicated by testing without clear justification.

What type of test is best?

There isn’t a single test that will detect all substances, and a kit from your neighborhood pharmacy might test negative for one drug while totally missing others. No test casts a wide enough net to catch every possible drug.

Most standard urine and saliva kits test for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and PCP, while more sophisticated at-home tests will also detect barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone and certain prescription painkillers. Specialized, more expensive tests are necessary if you suspect your child is using LSD, mushrooms or inhalants.

Are you willing to observe?

It’s almost certain that your teen will resent you watching closely as she fills the bottle, but, if so motivated, many kids know ways of getting around a urine test. For example, bleach or other substances are often used to adulterate drug tests, and purchased or “borrowed” urine is frequently used to escape detection. Kids are aware that a variety of options are available online, at any neighborhood head shop, or even at many all-night convenience stores. Also, claims of “I don’t need to pee right now” or “I can’t go with you watching,” are likely to result in heated arguments between parent and child.

What about other types of tests?

Hair testing sounds like a viable, non-invasive alternative to urine testing, but hair samples won’t detect use in the last week to 10 days and may be skewed by rate of hair growth, hygiene or use of cosmetics, dyes or bleaches. Hair testing generally isn’t an option for occasional or recent drug use, but is generally used for heavy use that has occurred over an extended time. The long window of detection makes hair tests impractical for parents.

Similarly, saliva tests are easy and less invasive than urine tests, and many detect drugs before the substances are detectable in urine. The problem is that a savvy young adult may find ways of generating more saliva to dilute the test, and smoking cigarettes may also skew the results. In order for saliva tests to be effective, you’ll need to ensure your child is supervised for 30 minutes prior to sampling.

Why it’s best to leave drug screening to the professionals

Dr. Sharon Levy, Director, Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, recommends against home drug testing. In Dr. Levy’s words, “I am not at all convinced that drug testing is useful as a preventive tool; it is a terrible tool for identifying use (since most teen and young adult drug use is sporadic, which is very unlikely to be picked up by a random test), and it is certainly not a stand-alone treatment for a substance use disorder. ”

Further, some kids will switch using one substance for another in an attempt to avoid a positive drug screen. For example, some teens who enjoy smoking marijuana will switch to a synthetic form like K2 or Spice to beat a marijuana drug screen, often with disastrous outcomes.

“If you suspect your child has a substance use problem or disorder, my suggestion would be to drop the drug kit and to speak with a health professional,” recommends Dr. Levy.

Drug test - Take a drug test

Finding out if a person is using drugs can come in handy in a variety of situations. The test for narcotic substances is a modern high-precision study that is carried out for diagnostic purposes in order to confirm or refute the fact of taking psychoactivators and drugs.

You can seek advice from the Profi-Detox clinic in Kyiv, where qualified specialists conduct a detailed laboratory and clinical examination, and are always ready to provide professional assistance.

Drug testing in the clinic

Testing for the content of narcotic compounds is requested by a forensic examination if the case concerns a conflict situation - an accident, a fight. This is a weighty argument for the court when establishing custody of a child. Regular analysis will help to detect a breakdown in a patient who has undergone treatment in a timely manner.

Doping control is a very similar process for the certification and eligibility of athletes to compete. Rapid drug tests are required when hiring drivers, machinists, pilots, as well as when entering higher military institutions.

Body detoxification

Drug therapy

Psycho and sociotherapy

What drugs are tested?

Drug treatment clinic offers testing for all types of drugs and psychotropic components:

cannabinoids and analogues - hashish, marijuana;
opiates - codeine, morphine, heroin;
methadone;
amphetamines and metmphetamines;
all kinds of barbiturates;
salt;
ecstasy;
spices;
cocaine;
sodium oxybutyrate.

It can be seen from the list that almost all narcotic factors common in drug addicts are detected using tests. A highly accurate drug test reveals the truth and can be a motivation to start addiction treatment.

Common tests and their features

Confirmation test options and timings are shown in the table:

Narcotic substance	Blood for antibodies, months	Blood for metabolites, days	Urine, days	Hair, months
Heroin	4	3	4	3
Methadone	4	1	30	3
Marijuana	4	3	4	3
Cocaine	4	5	5	3
Amphetamines	4	12	5	3
Barbiturates	4	2	1	3
Tranquilizers	4	3	7	3
LSD	Not detected	4	10	Not detected

Detection methods are as accurate as possible and allow you to detect a single dose after a few days to a longer period - several months. For screening tests, blood and urine are used, where metabolic products are detected.

If the preliminary analysis gave a positive result, specialized studies are prescribed for confirmation - thin-layer or gas-liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry. They make it possible to establish all possible drug options, the prescription of the disease and its severity.

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Take a drug test at home

Home rapid tests help to identify the presence of psychotropic drugs, which can be freely purchased at a pharmacy. Screening strips allow you to preliminarily determine which drug has entered the body. Multitests are designed for 3-5 types of psychoactive components.

You can get tested for drugs at home, but it is much more effective to do it in the clinic itself. Against the background of ease of use at home, they have one significant disadvantage - incomplete information content. The unreliability is due to the fact that after a day or two, the screening analysis will not detect narcotic residues.

Laboratory tests in the clinic are the most reliable and accurate, they can be used to detect all drugs popular among drug addicts. And not just to confirm the fact of admission, but also to determine the amount. The higher the concentration, the more seriously ill the patient. The patient will not be able to fake the result and hide the predilection during the examination in the clinic. The research can be done completely confidential and anonymous.

Patient transfer

We arrive at the address within 45 - 60 minutes.

Free consultation

Call with any question.

Guaranteed anonymity

No one will know that you are on treatment.

Call or write to us, the specialist on duty will advise and recommend a rapid test that is relevant for a particular case. In our clinic, you can get tested for drugs, at the same time receive professional advice and medical assistance.

Drug testing

In our laboratories, this analysis, like any other, can be passed anonymously.

Biological material can:

collect parents who suspect their child of smoking marijuana;
bring spouses to the laboratory who have reason to believe that the other half is taking amphetamines;
personally provide patients who wish to receive objective information about their physiological state. Indeed, for some professions, a drug test is prescribed by law, and people who have arrived from foreign resorts sometimes do not even suspect that the smoking or hookah mixture contained psychotropic ingredients.

Analysis description

Laboratory analysis for drugs involves the use of several research methodologies: from immunochromatographic tests and screenings based on the detection of antibodies to certain drugs to chemical multi-studies, involving the determination of traces of several substances at once. This allows you to carry out at a high quality level:

Pre-screening. Confirms the presence or absence of drugs.
Confirmatory Extended Study. Performed after a positive test has been obtained and allows the concentration of substances to be determined.
Control analysis. It is used in disputable situations, for example, when taking medicines of a certain group or in cases where it is problematic to select pure biological material.

Types of test material

Modern methods for the determination of narcotic substances are rapidly developing. But many of them are either scientifically untenable or very expensive. The SZTSDM uses the most effective and affordable methods for the population. Therefore, our laboratories accept for analysis:

Blood. Provides the ability to detect traces of drugs, even if they were used a month before the screening. Assumes a standard and extended version of the study. The chemical method allows you to confirm the fact of drug intoxication and establish CNF, and the analysis based on the detection of antibodies is used as a qualitative test and confirms repeated use;
Saliva. Keeps narcotic traces at the threshold concentration for up to 2 days. Gives only preliminary results. Samples taken can be stored at temperatures below +3˚C for several days, which simplifies analysis by third parties;
Urine. May be collected at any time of the day and 2 to 4 hours before submission to the laboratory. As biological material provides a four-day drug detection period. The standard and extended test may involve the identification of 3, 5 and 10 types of substances. The ICG method makes it possible to determine the traces of 14 types of drugs. Does not show the exact number of drugs used.

Types of detected substances

Unfortunately, in addition to organic substances, artificially synthesized drugs are also common today. In the conditions of the Northwestern Center for Evidence-Based Medicine, tests are carried out to identify the following substances:

Opiates. An extensive group of powerful semi-synthetic drugs, including heroin, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, oxycodone and other drugs. They are quickly absorbed and give a stable, almost irresistible attachment. They have a strong hallucinogenic property and can cause irreversible processes in the cerebral cortex Diagnosed from 48 to 72 hours.
Amphetamines and methamphetamines. Artificially synthesized powerful stimulants of the nervous system, also used as medicinal anorexigenic and antihypertensive drugs. They can be used not only invasively, but also as tablets and powder preparations, due to which they have become widespread in nightclubs and discos. With uncontrolled use, in addition to addiction, they cause disturbances in the work of the cardiovascular system and the destruction of nerve endings. Determined up to 48 hours.
Cocaine . Alkaloid and the strongest stimulant of the nervous system, synthesized from plants of the genus Erythroxylum. It causes euphoria, which is sharply replaced by the subsequent oppressed and depressive state. Cocaine psychic addiction is very difficult to cope with. As a rule, it is determined within the first 8 hours, but its metabolides are also detected on the 4th day.
Marijuana. An organic cannabinoid with a psychotropic effect. Due to its plant origin, it is considered by the inhabitants to be a “light” drug, but with frequent use it causes a strong attachment, which further motivates them to take stronger drugs. Depending on the intensity of use, it can be determined from 5 ÷ 8 days and even after 2 ÷ 4 weeks.

Interpretation of result

If the analytical evaluation of the study is declared as negative, this means that the presence of traces of narcotic substances was not detected or their concentration is minimal and below the control level. A positive result indicates that the concentration of illicit drugs and drugs is higher than normal and confirms the fact of use.