Brandon Twp.-Brandon High School Senior Jon Oehm is just fine with the free drug and alcohol screening kits now available at the sheriff substation.
But some of his friends may not be.
‘A lot of my friends wouldn’t like it because some of them do drugs,? said Oehm, adding that he doesn’t do drugs, he has too much on the line? like college, and his parents? trust. ‘If I had a kid and suspected they were doing drugs, I’d test them.?
This is precisely what Oakland County Sheriff Sgt. Tim McIsaac substation commander said is the intent of having the kits available.
‘This leaves it up to the parents to deal with in the privacy of their own home,? said McIsaac, who adds that there is no prosecution involved, the kit is a tool to aid parents in helping their children. ‘We realize we can only do so much and we need to work with parents and schools to tackle this problem.?
The substation acquired ten kits using drug forfeiture money so the kits are free to taxpayers. Three different kits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One test uses saliva to screen for alcohol while two others? a four-panel test that screens for marijuana, cocaine, opiates and methamphetamines. A test that screens for the drug Ecstasy? uses urine. More tests may become available, depending on demand.
The screening kits, part of a Law Enforcement Against Drugs (LEAD) program, arrived at the Brandon substation less than two weeks ago.The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department first offered the kits in November. Some communities in other counties have had the kits for more than a year.
The Shelby Township Police Department in Macomb County has had the kits since September 2003. They charge $5 for a single drug or $15 for the four-panel kit, but even with the cost, Drug Enforcement Officer Albert O’Neal said the response has been very good.
‘Every other week I have to order and restock some of the kits,? he said estimating that the department has sold over 100 of the tests, which he said are 99 percent accurate. ‘We haven’t had any complaints.?
Dane Westphall, the father of two Brandon High School students won’t be complaining. He thinks the tests are a great idea.
‘Kids should know the parents are watching them and are interested in what they’re doing,? he said. ‘Some kids might think their parents aren’t interested and they’ll do whatever they want to do.?
Westphall said he is confident his daughters do not have an issue with drugs, but if they did he would not hesitate to use one of the tests if he thought they were in trouble. Nor would he be concerned about it straining his relationship with his children.
‘It might be a strain if you’re trying to be a friend,? Westphall said. ‘But I’m not here to be a friend, I’m the parent. If they’re under 18 and living in my house they’re my responsibility.?
His daughter Marisa, a Brandon High School junior sees a good and bad side to the new drug screening kits.
‘If a parent feels they have to test their kid and they have no other option, if it’s a last resort, then it’s good,? she said. ‘But it might hurt trust if the kid knows there isn’t a problem and the parent thinks there is. The kid might rebel.?
Marisa said she would be angry if her dad wanted her to take one, because she doesn’t use drugs. But overall, she believes the screening kits are a good thing, particularly for parents who should know their kids are using drugs, but don’t.
O’Neal said one Shelby Township mother was unaware her son used drugs until his friend died of a heroin overdose. She became a regular buyer of the screening kits, getting five kits at a time to make sure her son was staying clean.
McIsaac said drug problems, including heroin, have also been seen in Brandon Township.
‘There’s a drug issue in every township,? he said. ‘We are no worse or better than anyone else.?
McIsaac, a D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) instructor for 13 years, cites studies that show juveniles become addicted to drugs twice as quickly as adults.
‘Hopefully parents can intervene when their kids are still in the experimental stage, but prior to addiction.?
McIsaac said a change in behavior, falling grades, lack of interest in social activities and rapid weight loss are just some signs of possible drug use. More warning signs can be found in literature that is included with the drug screening kits.
Debbie Gelen, the mother of four children including a Brandon Middle School student, said she would only use the test if she saw some of the symptoms of drug use. However, she said there is no such thing as ‘not my kid.?
‘Sometimes people put their heads in the sand,? said Gelen, who adds that she would be prepared to follow through with consequences if she ever tested her children for drugs and the results were positive.
‘I’d rather know than ignore it and things get out of hand. It’s better to be informed.?
O’Neal said that some parents in his community are using it as a deterrent, telling their child they have one and will use it if necessary.
‘They have told me, ‘Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it,?? he said.
Drug screening kits are available for all residents of the Brandon School District. Details: (248) 627-4911 or call Detective ArnieTerrell, the Brandon Schools police liaison officer at (248) 627-1800 ext. 1173.