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Articles » Hair And Fiber
Hair Drug Analysis on Teens: Legitimate or a Violation?
Jennifer Chow
It is a common conception that teenagers use drugs. One of the biggest nightmares of a parent is to learn that their child is taking drugs and therefore is threatening their life with such narcotics. Now scientists have developed a technology with which parents can test their children for drug use by using their hair samples. They merely go to a pharmacy, or turn on their computer, and order from web-sites such as www.hairtest.com or www.drugfreeteenagers.com. They can purchase their own drug-testing kit for anywhere from $59.95 to $169.99, depending on the testing requested. Initially, these tests were used by large companies to test their employees. Apparently, the concern has spread to the children.
According to this procedure, a parent needs less than two inches of a hair sample, preferably around fifty strands. He can send them into a laboratory, which will conduct tests for drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, or PCP. Drug traces can be detected if the child has used them within the past 90 days. Organizations such as after Burner guarantee a 99.9% success rate, because it is very hard to hide evidence of drugs if hair samples are tested. The PDT-90 Drug Testing Service promises notification of the results within two weeks.
Is this procedure completely honest and beneficial? It has been a widely controversial subject ever since it emerged into the scientific world. Many parents will not remove hair strands directly from their children's head. They can just take strands that have fallen out onto hair combs and send those in. A parent might possibly be able to determine if his child is using dangerous drugs, and prevent further occurrences by finding appropriate help for their teenager. At the same time, is the parent not breaking the trust of his child when he secretly removes the hair samples and sends them in? Is it not the right of the teenager to have some sort of knowledge of the tests his hair samples are undergoing? Is this not a violation of a person's own property when he does not consent to such tests?
Are these tests legitimate when the owners of the hair samples have no knowledge of the tests that are occurring? Your answer will depend on your position. Are you a worried parent looking out for your children and their health? Or are you a teenager defending you rights? Still the debate continues.
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