Wooton: Is there value to drug testing?
By Will Wooton
Drug testing has become a strong topic of discussion among many families. Should parents, coaches or even doctors require it? Does it stop drug abuse or violate trust?
Given I am asked about this without fail every week, I’ll express my thoughts publicly. I know this is a heated topic and will draw a strong reaction from both sides of the debate.
As a treatment professional, my experience has shown that drug tests have very little effect on an addict. By the very nature of addiction, drug tests alone will not keep someone clean. For an addict, a drug test is a notch on a string of failed consequences that others impose. Drugs tests are not treatment but rather one of the tools utilized in a well-rounded treatment plan. If drug tests kept addicts sober, relapse rates would drop and I wouldn’t have a job! This clearly is not the case.
This is where I part ways with the anti-drug test movement — I do very strongly believe, and have seen, where drug tests can prevent abuse and give non-addict adolescents a reason not to use. Therein lies the difference. Non-addicts don’t allow their choices to be dictated by drugs. They may be at a party and say “Sure, I’ll try it” because there may be no consequences. Now, with the possibility of a test in the future, we’ve created a reason for them to pass. We’ve built in a preemptive consequence allowing them to think about their choice. We’ve given them an opportunity to think and reason as adults do daily. As anyone who’s dealt with an alcoholic or addict can tell you, their consequential thinking goes right out the window.
With the issue of breaking trust, I can’t think of a better way to rebuild it then, as a parent, to set a standard and follow through with verifying that it’s being upheld. To openly trust your teen about drugs may work out but does carry a risk for your entire family. Should it backfire, be prepared for sleepless nights and lots of tears. When most teens use drugs, honesty goes right out the window.
I hear constantly “I don’t want my kid to think I don’t trust them” or “I want my kids to see that I trust their choices and respect them.” My response to this is to focus on what’s right and safe but, if you must parent based off your child’s feelings, give them the ability to prove their trustworthiness. Let them show you they are making the right choices, and will continue to make the right choices, when it comes to drugs. It’s very easy to fall victim to and begin relating to a child as an adult. Being a mature, fully brain-developed adult we forget and interact with teens like they are ready for that level of interpersonal relationship. I know at 15 years old I wasn’t ready for it despite thinking I was. I’m thankful that I had the strong guidance of adults who cared enough to help me make good choices.
Teens are hearing about drugs every day. I believe they should be given the opportunity to earn trust — not be given it.
I’d like to commend the Rancho Bernardo High School football team for initiating drug testing for their teams. I feel this is a great opportunity to allow kids to make the right choice and perhaps prevent another tragedy. I hope other teams and schools will follow their lead.
Wooton is director of Pacific Treatment Services and co-author of “Bring Your Teen Back From The Brink.” PTS is a substance abuse company working with teens and young adults. Website: www.PacificTreatmentServices.com.
Related posts:
- Will Wooton: What if someone doesn’t want to be helped?
- Will Wooton: How do you tell if your teen is on drugs?
- Will Wooton: Finding effective treatment
Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=28557
Posted by Steve Dreyer
on Sep 13 2012. Filed under Columnists.
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Thanks for your thoughts about this. As a professional, you should know what is effective.
I hear now kids can buy clean urine for drug tests. If there is a ted kids will find a way around it. Keep these articles coming. They're valuable for me and the community.
Excellent write up as usual will!
Some of us have raised our kids the correct way and don't need to destroy our families relationship with checking up on our kids. You Mr Wooton profit off of driving kids to use other harder drugs by restricting their pot use. The more pills and powders that are used the richer people like you become. Parents raise your kids right and we will not have this issue.
I'm sorry but if you think by not "restricting" pot use, it will prevent kids from using harder drugs, you couldn't be more wrong. I speak from experience. With drugs there are no guarantees. Not all, but some kids will certainly cross that line and move from pot to pills or other drugs when their extended use of pot no longer gives them the same feeling it did when they first tried it. I truly hope "Father of three" that you never have to eat your words because one of your children crosses that line. It can and does happen to anyone!
you obviously do not know a thing about the disease of addiction…how fortunate you are to not have to suffer the consequences of the disease and it's devastating affect on families….some of the "best" addicts come from the "best" families…
How pathetically uninformed you are, Father of three! Wow!!!
Sir, With all due respect, you do not understand addiction.
This is just the worst kind of ignorance. My guess is daddy has pot issues and by "allowing" his children access under the guise of "educating them" daddy doesn't have to acknowledge his own issues.
You are sooo right! I especially wish all sports teams would randomly drug test the kids. Having a high school senior on several athletic teams, I hear about all kinds of drug use among the students and athletes. This would certainly help curtail drug use as their position on a team seems to be one of the most important aspects of their school years.
legalize mj
Great way of differentiating between addicts and non addicts!! Love the article great job!
I wonder how father of three would judge someone who has done exactly as he has with different results. A good parent does not always equal a good kid just as a good kid doesn't always equal a good parent! If father of three ever needs a professional I would strongly recommend he reconsider someone such as Will. He is a consumate professional who has a very altruistic approach to what he does. Sometimes the perfect storm doesn't always fall into a parents lap and when there is a need – thank God for people with Will's expertise – He saves lives and futures as opposed to judging. Please realize we all wish we could claim our parenting was perfect as you do. But, that would just be foolish!!
Well said.
Arguing against drug tests is akin to believing someone when they tell you they dont have any std's. Verication is important.
Interesting point of view. I like the distinction you make between an addict and a non addict.
Great article. Very informational. From Texas and we started drug testing this year for all sports! Kudos to our HS!
I am not sure how drug testing would destroy a family relationship?? Parents are using tools to check grades, would that be considered a violation of trust? I think it is a smart and effective way to build a trusting relationship with your teen and to hold them accountable for their choices. I check up on my kids, sometimes using Facebook, reading their texts, and using drug tests. The pressure our kids are under to fit in leads to bad decision making I want to be aware so that as a good parent I can deal with any problems that arise.
I have good kids. They are smart and funny and we have a good relationship. I also work in discipline at a high school. I have seen so many "good" kids get busted for drugs, and their good parents did not have a clue. I have attended Will's support group for families of kids who do drugs. These kids were NOT CAUGHT early enough! Now they are fighting for their lives! if they know you are going to test them, it at least gives them a reason NOT to try anything. I have had discussions with my "GOOD" kids about drugs and sex and anything else that might come up. Believe me, no matter how good your relationship is, most kids will look you in the eye and LIE. I am not suggesting you drug test to BUST them. I am suggesting you do it to save their lives. I had no reason to believe that my son was smoking pot, but as I was testing one son who had tried pot, I decided to test my other son. Just because. No reason. The one son who I thought would absolutely not have done it, turned up positive. There you go! Now I know. Now I can make sure he learns more and that we talk more and this it does not become an addiction, but rather just a blip on his screen. Thanks to Will and the support group, I now have the tools and the courage to be the parent that I need to be for my sons.
Hope to see drug tests put into more schools with sports programs. Was excited when our son wanted to play football only to discover he was doing drugs before and after every practice as well as games. Random drug tests would help show the kids – and parents – that the district is taking it serious and won't tolerate having players doing drugs. Any parent of an athlete who feels this is an invasion of their rights needs to face the reality their kid may be one in need of a drug test!
Great informative article as always Will!! Regarding the comment the Father of three made, It just goes to show you how much more parents need to educate themselves on teen drug use and addiction. Thank you Will for constantly putting as much as you can out there for these parents who will one day need it!!
Im so happy that RB is drug testing the athletes, I hope that more schools follow suit. It may not solve the problem completely, but I'm sure it will have an inpact. Thank you for the information on drug testing, and the difference between addicts and non addicts. Parents, use drug tests as one of your tools, but don't take a negative test as truth. Addicts are very skilled and have ways of fooling these tests. Watch behavior, and trust your gut. Melinda
Father of Three…you are ignorant. The way a kid is raised has nothing to do with whether they will become an addict or not.
This is a great article and highlights the importance of teens understanding that there might well be consequences for their drug use. Many teens do experiment with drugs and many move past this stage and do not develop a true addiction. Most who use, do so secretly without their parent's knowledge. Even the best parents may well miss signs that their son or daughter has started using drugs. In the same way that random traffic speed traps help to curb speeding, drug testing, or the threat of testing, can serve to help our children make proper choices when faced with the prospect of experimenting with drugs.
And for the parent who believes that this whole issue boils down to proper parenting, you underestimate the negative influence that some teenagers can have on our otherwise well parented sons and daughters.
You said " It’s very easy to fall victim to and begin relating to a child as an adult. Being a mature, fully brain-developed adult we forget and interact with teens like they are ready for that level of interpersonal relationship."
This is the sentence that really stood out for me. I fell victim to that. My son often fed me tidbits of information like gossip about drug use of his friends, or apologetic admitting he tried something but never again. I believed him. I was so afraid I would ruin our "open" relationship by drug testing him. Eventually, with my ignorance and enabling, his drug use got out of control, and our "nice" and "open" son became hostile and ugly. He had been manipulating me all along, using drugs and giving me enough info to keep me thinking he was being honest and open. That's when things changed for me. I found my anger. I realized my fear of drug testing him was ridiculous and as a parent, my responsibility.
Your articles have facinated me and I hope they continue. This is such important stuff nowadays, the drugs out there are lethal. Kids are dying. Thank you for printing this information! I needed this and still do!
Many employers don't trust prospective employees. They have to pass a drug test first. Student athletes should have to earn the privledge of playing by passing a drug test. In my opinion, drug testing is a problem for those parents who want to "look the other way" and just can't bring themselves to face the truth. These parents need as much help as their kids. Wooton's article is provacative, relavent and timely.
Great article Will. The Teensavers Home Drug Test Kit was made specifically for families right here in Southern California. The key to home drug testing is not making it an accusatory encounter. Home drug testing can be introduced in exchange for privileges, like later curfews, or use of the car. With privileges, comes responsibility. Kids need to know that as athletes they would be subject to drug testing. Many corporations have a drug screening process upon hiring. You don't think kids are already aware of drug tests? Sure they are. Take a look at twitter. Kids and young adults talk openly about their drug use, and their constant buying of drug tests to self-check themselves before a workplace test (typically at Home Depot.)
The best thing about having a home drug test is that it alert the teen, that any notice of a change, could lead to the use of the test. Plus, home drug tests empower kids to tell their friend "I can't do drugs. My parents test me."
Home drug testing isn't a sign of bad parenting. When used properly, it can be an invaluable tool to detecting experimentation before it becomes addiction.
In a perfect world, "proper parenting" should prevent our precious teens from experimental or full blown drug use. But we certainly don't live in a perfect world these days. As parents of today's teenagers we are experiencing an unprecedented shift in I guess what one would call "traditional" teen behaviors, due in part to having easy access to an instant information based world that can fit in the palm of one's hand. It is my opinion that a certain percentage of our teens will at some point use this "fingertip" information in negative ways, run with it, unfortunately inflicting collateral damage in 'side line' teens with identity or self-esteem problems. When a shift in a teen's behavior occurs and a parent begins to think that "somethings up", I think that it is proper parenting to fully get into their cyber world, do a thorough search of their room and if warranted, buy a drug test kit or have them tested. As Mr. Wooton said, drug tests can give the non-addict, experimenting adolescent a reason not to use which may and more importantly… give them a very good reason to "just say no" to everyday peer pressure.
Father of Three: at first glance I dismissed your comment as one so typical of those parents who desperately need to be their kids friend. You know, the ones that are always so shocked when something BAD happens to their kid; and they start wringing their hands, looking for someone to blame after it inevitably does. But then I read it again. You accuse Will Wooten of driving kids to harder drugs by "restricting their pot use"? Restricting it? Do you mean limiting the amount they use? Or restricting its use all together? We live in a community where we cannot afford to be this ignorant of what our kids are doing, and I strongly encourage all parents to get to know the parents of your children's friends. Trust me when I say that I am ready, willing and ABLE to defend my parenting choices; and that the biggest job I have ever had in my life is that of my son's PARENT. I enjoy being around him, we have fun together – but I am not his FRIEND. I do not restrict his pot use…I forbid it!
LOOOOOOOVE this post! I agree 100000%!! (that was NOT a typo!)
Kudos to Pomerado News for bringing attention to the growing drug problems we have in our community! As parents of four children, we welcome this information.
I agree 100% Kudos to Pomerado News! Keep getting the info out there, Its life and death. And Im not being dramatic, Its fact!
I strongly agree with father of three. This drug issue is made worse by parents, law and schools demanding no use. Really how many of us have smoked some pot over the years and we all seemed to turn out just fine. The real crime is that schools tell kids that if they smoke pot they will be in trouble. Who has ever died from pot? Now if we punish them it will drive kids to real drugs. When your kid is doing coke you can blame mr wooten and his kind for pushing them into it. Let our kids make their choices and if they responsibly smoke pot who cares!
All I can say is unbelievable. You really need to educate yourself before you speak. The pot today is not the same as you smoked in the 70's. Read any number of articles and studies that attest to that. There are plenty of other studies that show pot does affect driving ability. They may not die directly from the pot but can certainly die indirectly from an accident just as easily as underage drinking and DUIs. And not all, but many kids DO move to pills and harder drugs after pot. Maybe you see that as just another choice.
Thanks, Mr. Wooton, for some good advise. It is clear that you have lots of experience working with teens and their families. I have told lots of my friends about your book. Keep on getting the word out so we can help our kids!
Realistic Dad – there is a big difference between realistic and reckless! I'm not sure how you get to your conclusion. Punishing them for pot pushes them to coke? Do you seriously think that this is what's happening? You don't think that the kid who is occasionally smoking pot with no consequences won't try something else if a better high is promised. And when something even better is offered, won't they try that too? How much is too much? All we want to do is give our children another reason to say NO to ALL drugs. Most drug testing programs don't catch many offenders, because the threat of the test is the deterrent. It helps our kids, our student athletes, make better choices and help each other to make better choices.
This so called war on drugs is only making prisons and treatment programs money. When will we wake up and allow people their god given freedoms back. This is America and we can do what we want when we want. If that's smoking some pot who cares! Your pushing kids towards harder drugs. Choose your battles parents and don't by into the hype. I let my dog pee in the yard so he doesn't pee in the house same idea with kids! When has restricting their choices been good?
Wonderful article Will! Just too bad there are so many self-righteous people out there who are totally ignorant and patting themselves on the back a bit too much! I do not wish addiction or trouble of any kind on anyone..and it would certainly be sad to see their faces when their PERFECT parenting faces a crisis one day!
Thanks Will, you are appreciated for helping so many teens, young adults and parents! We value you!!
I also hope that more and more school teams would initiate drug testing for this will help the kids be on the right track. I don't think that by checking the kids on how they are doing will be an issue of trust. For me, it's a way of showing how much you care for your kids. I think it is better that the parents educate their kids about drugs and the like as early as possible so that future problems can be prevented.
The community without your efforts Will would be in dire straights . There will be parents with other opinions. When I read "father of threes " comments it was laughable. So judgememtal and self righteous. His experience is not everyone's, your experience I'm taking to the bank. Without your experience my kid may still be lost. Great article and very relevant to the group of parents who are struggling to understand that their kids may be addicted in the first place. Any one declaring that there is " the right way" to raise their children" hasnt walked in my shoes. It takes a village Will keep those articles coming.
I have to admit, when I read Father of Three's comments I DID laugh out loud! Inexperience and those attitudes will eventually bite him in the butt. Those types of parents don't even bother me anymore cause I know life will happen and he will frantically search for answers. Maybe he can then learn what the true meaning of humility means. .
This is another example of the 'tools' parents can add to the box. Sometimes it's all to easy to find an applicabilty in our lives. SOme of us have never had the need or inclinaiton to drug test a teen. There was no suspicion or behavioral issue that would lead to the "I wonder" question. Then the sibling of case 1 is an entirely different kid and displays issues that lead to "I just know he's loaded". Mr. Wooten provides parents options and tools to be better informed, take charge and find strength that they are not alone and it is not an indictment of them as successful parents. I have found those parent who execute difficult ( often heartbreaking) plans adn help there their children survive / thrive are heroic. I wish all the best to those not confronted with the difficulties of teen addiction. Count your blessings adn say a prayer for those searching for courage adn peace. Mr. Wooton provides hope for these folks facing challenges. Thanks for what you are doing Will, keep it up.
So happy to see that people who are obviously educated in these areas will set the uneducated people straight! It is UNBELIEVABLE to me how in this day with all the drug awareness and education and young deaths there are due to drug use (and, yes, it DOES start with weed!) that some people can still talk so ignorantly and naively!! Will Wooton and others like him SAVE LIVES, and, sadly, those of us that know it to be true are parents that have lived it.
I think that Will is right about drug testing the high schoolers. The students that begin using drugs do so very secretly and because they don't want to stop, pose a risk to themselves and others. If you have random drug tests, they won't know when testing days are coming and that risk will deter some students.
Will, Thanks for the insightful article.
RB's head football coach, Tristan McCoy, is to be commended for bringing this idea with him from a previous job in LA. It was a two year struggle to overcome strong resistance to testing from the booster club board, but he got it done. Some parents actually felt that they were protecting their kids by blocking random and voluntary (parental opt-in) testing. Many parents appear to be in denial about the amount of drug use on high school sports teams. Tristan has implemented one same but valuable step. Hopefully, his concept will spread to other Poway schools and sports.
I check up on my kids, sometimes using Facebook, reading their texts, and using drug tests. The pressure our kids are under to fit in leads to bad decision making I want to be aware so that as a good parent I can deal with any problems that arise.
It’s very easy to fall victim to and begin relating to a child as an adult. Being a mature, fully brain-developed adult we forget and interact with teens like they are ready for that level of interpersonal relationship.
I do very strongly believe, and have seen, where drug tests can prevent abuse and give non-addict adolescents a reason not to use.