It’s a dreaded conversation for every parent: drug testing your teen. Often, this conversation can be met with a tense, awkward, or even defensive tone from your kiddo. Ultimately, many teens are just entering the world of proving their independence, wanting your trust, but also thinking they know what’s best for them. This mindset can lead to dangerous results if left to wander. It’s easy and perfectly understandable for parents to feel helpless in approaching these kinds of situations.
An excellent method to keep in mind is to be proactive! Have these conversations and act before you suspect something nefarious is going on. That way, speaking about drug use is not something that is shrouded in suspicion and distrust but just seen as a routine check-in. Although it can be a minor annoyance for your teen, at least it might help to cut down on the animosity.
If you’re looking for a safe place to check your teen and make sure they’re not engaging in drug use, be sure to consider your neighborhood Any Lab Test Now®.
Impact of Drug Use Among Teens
High school can be a difficult time for teenagers, they enter high school as children, but they leave as young adults. Fo just about every teen, this four-year period is extremely transformational and experimental. For most, this means trying drugs and alcohol for the first time.
Facts:
- Teens experiment with drug use due to peer pressure and academic pressure
- Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among teens
Cotinine (Nicotine Metabolite) Test
At Any Lab Test Now®, we offer a urine drug test called the Cotinine (Nicotine Metabolite) Test that determines the presence of cotinine or nicotine in the system. It’s the test of choice to evaluate active tobacco use or exposure to tobacco. Cotinine is the metabolite or what is left after nicotine consumption. Cotinine is more stable and has a longer life in the body than nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and found in tobacco, cigarettes, and e-cigarettes used for vaping.
Results from the Cotinine Test are typically received in 24 to 48 business hours. We encourage you to consult with your primary physician about all test results.
10 Panel Instant Drug Screen (Saliva)
Any Lab Test Now® also offers the 10 Panel Instant Drug Test Screen. This test determines the presence or absence of 10 types of drugs in the saliva. it checks for the following metabolites:
- Amphetamine
- Barbiturates
- Cocaine
- MDMA
- Methamphetamines
- Methadone
- Opiates
- Oxycodone
- Marijuana
- Phencyclidine
As always, we recommend sharing your results with your physician to create a plan for the next steps.
School is Back – Take Back Your Health Too
Either of these two tests could provide you with information that could put your teen on a healthier road for their future. It can be gut-wrenching thinking your child may be engaging in drug use, and drug testing can be a scary thought, but it’s necessary to make sure your child is being safe and making healthy choices.
Convenience is key when it comes to Any Lab Test Now®. We recognize how difficult it can be to get your child drug tested, so we strive to have work and school accommodating hours, so it’s not a hassle visiting one of our clinics. Any Lab Test Now® supports the parents out there. Trust your instincts! You’re doing your best, and that’s enough. Schedule an appointment with your local Any Lab Test Now® today.
