Drug use among minors presents a very dangerous situation for young people and many parents, educators, and employers are looking for new ways to protect middle and high school students from developing substance abuse disorders. Can you legally and ethically perform a drug test on a minor and how should the results be used?

When Are Minors Required to Take a Drug Test?

There are a number of cases where it is standard procedure to require drug or alcohol testing for minors. Some of these include:

• When a parent or caregiver sees signs of drug use in their child that they believe is serious enough to cause them harm
• When recommended by a recovery or medical professional who has consulted with the parent and minor child about drug or alcohol use
• When suspected drug use might indicate self-medication for other serious mental or physical health issues
• When required by the court system after an arrest or legal problem
• As a condition of participation in school athletics
• When required for employment, with proper parental consent
• When required for private school enrollment, summer camps, or other educational or career opportunities

Signs of Teen Drug Use

Parents, educators, or peers might notice warning signs of substance abuse in a teenager. Drug testing your teen is not a substitute for conversations and guidance about the dangers of drug use for young people, but it can be a useful tool in providing additional support for minors struggling with the cycle of early drug use.

Warning signs that a young person might be abusing drugs or alcohol include:

• Poor performance at school or work
• Behaving in a secretive or deceptive manner
• Sudden and dramatic changes in behavior or personality
• Sleeping much more or less than normal
• Forgetfulness, lack of focus, missing appointments and deadlines
• Declining self-care and hygiene
• Smelling like alcohol or drugs or possessing paraphernalia

Ethical Concerns About Drug Testing Minors

While parents certainly have the right to drug test their children, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to consider carefully before forcing a minor to take a drug test. Doing so may damage the relationship of trust between parent and child, but it is appropriate when your child may be in danger. When drug testing is recommended, it should be done by a professional testing facility to avoid the serious consequences of a false positive result.

Experts and medical professionals will consider these factors before determining if involuntary drug testing is warranted:

• Competence. If the young person shows good cognitive functioning and developmental status, which shows they are capable of understanding the consequences of their actions, and they are not currently intoxicated, they are considered competent to make a decision about drug testing.
• Consent. If the minor person is competent and understands the request for a drug test, then obtaining their consent is required in a medical setting, unless there is an emergency medical situation or they are in immediate danger. Obtaining consent as a parent will help maintain a relationship of trust with your child.
• Confidentiality. Adolescents have the right to a doctor/patient relationship of trust and confidentiality. This allows them to speak to their doctor about their health care needs in a safe environment. The law may require a medical professional to disclose a minor’s drug use to parents or authorities in cases where serious harm to the patient or others might occur.
• Paternalism. This refers to the recognized need for adults, especially parents and medical professionals, to sometimes go against the wishes of a minor person when there is a substantial risk of harm. Unlike adults, a minor is recognized to need a paternal level of care that seeks to protect them from the consequences of dangerous behaviors.

How Do You Drug Test a Minor for Work or School?

Each state has specific drug testing laws, but, in general, minors and their parents must both consent to a drug test before it can be performed by their school or their employer. Refusal to consent to a legally required drug test will usually mean that the young person cannot participate in the activity. State law will govern how the test results are reported and to whom.

Types of Drug and Alcohol Tests for Minors

The same types of drug tests are performed regardless of age. Saliva tests are best used when suspected drug or alcohol use has just occurred, as their window of detection is very short. Standard urine tests are the most common choice, with a detection window of two to three days for most drugs.

Hair tests are probably the most useful drug test for minors because they have a long detection window and are less prone to false negatives than urine drug testing. Fingernail clippings are another useful test for occasional or intermittent drug use, although neither of these methods will detect drug use in the last few days.

Home testing kits are the most basic way to perform drug testing on a minor, but, unfortunately, they are prone to false negatives and false positives that can do more harm than good for parents who are looking to prevent or identify drug use in their children. All presumably positive drug tests need to be confirmed with more advanced lab analysis before they are truly considered to be a positive test result.

What if the Test Is Positive?

Having a positive result on a simple urine drug screening does not necessarily mean that your child has a drug problem. A professional drug testing laboratory will need to perform confirming tests to determine what kind of substance triggered the test and in what amounts. If a minor employee or student or your own child tests positive, you should proceed with compassion and caution.

Make sure that the test was performed correctly and handled by a certified laboratory that has confirmed the initial results with gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis to guard against false positives from incidental contact, foods, or medications. If you are unsure of the specifics of the testing, consider re-testing with a professional service like AMH Nationwide.

Accurate Results for Compassionate Care

Young people who are using drugs or alcohol need a comprehensive approach to treatment and recovery, rather than punishment for failing to pass a drug test. Drug testing for minors is most useful when it informs and guides parents and caregivers to help young people make better decisions and live a healthier lifestyle.

For reliable, confidential, and accurate drug testing for minors and adults, work with a professional testing laboratory that uses the latest testing technology for results that you can trust. To learn more about EIA and Elisa hair testing with a 90-day detection window and rapid results, contact AMH Nationwide for more information on how to accurately test for your areas of concern. Working together, we can help young people avoid the devastating impacts of drug and alcohol abuse.