Question:
I am fairly certain my 14 year old son is smoking and/or dealing in weed, I have found a very small amount of loose tobacco like leaves in the bottom of his bag. Is there any way I can test this to find out if it is just tobacco or it is weed. I want to have my facts straight before I tackle the issue.Thanks
Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert, Stephen Wallace, fields questions about drugs and alcohol. Stephen Wallace is the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and has served as school psychologist, camp director, and college professor. You can read more about him on SADD's site. Stephen answers:
Well, I say in my book, Reality Gap, "Where there's smoke there's (usually) fire." So, there's a good chance your hunch is correct. Check with your local police department about testing of the leaves. You can, of course, also purchase home drug-testing kits that detect drugs in hair, sailva, or urine. That may seem overly intrusive, but most teens seem to agree that parents who believe their child is involved in, or headed toward, illegal or dangerous behavior have a duty to act. Given that marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in America and that of all youth age 12-17 in drug treatment in 2000, nearly 62 percent had a primary marijuana diagnosis, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, your concern is well-placed.