A Teen using meth just overdosed accidentally in the bedroom where he grew up and learned to play music. His family is devastated but deep down they had a suspicion months ago that the teen was using something. No actions where taken so a young life was lost.

Parents at one stage in their lives have been worried and had the fear that their child could be influenced and pressured into the wide world of drugs. What happens if they do end up there ? How does this sequence of events end up playing out? Parents finding themselves in this situation feel they have the need and right to drug test their child, and with a probable cause, I believe its called for. If it saves the child, steps should be taken.

One reason parents should drug test their child is because in the long run it could save their lives. If a child is taking drugs to a point to where an overdoes could be caused; its a parents or guardians right to take action. I asked assistant principal Melissa Bako if should would ever drug test her child if she had a probable cause; “Absolutely, because as a parent I need to know exactly what my kid is doing and is involved in.” As a parent its a unwritten rule that you should want to keep your child as safe as they can be and not purposely endangering themselves.

Another reason parents should drug test their child with probable cause is because it could motivate the teens to be clean. The subject of it being legal is what keeps parents wary, ” People ask me if they are legally allowed to and I let them know they are able to” (OFCR J.L LOPEZ). After parents find out it’s legal to drug test their minor they should take responsibility and make sure their kids are doing what they should be doing. Teens know how their parents are, they’ve grown up in the house hold where most likely consequences will be given.  If a teen knows that a drug test will be given randomly they will want to be better and want to help themselves, the last thing a kid wants is the disappointed look parents will give them.

On the other hand, certain parents and teens may say drug testing will rip apart the family unit. Drugs are a very blinding substance that creates more tension. Parents will argue and some teens, that when drug tests are given the tensions rise more than they already are and every bond between them and the kids is broken.  The relationships between families are treasured and when the white picket fence illusion has vanished parents and teens sometimes don’t want to face reality. Drug testing according to some parents, ruins everything they spent years building, and who knows maybe it does.

At the very end of the day, parents should be able to drug test their child as long as there’s a probable cause. In the world it’s more likely for someone to overdoses than being in  a car accident. If a parent could save the life of their baby, they should. Being a parent comes before being your kids “friend”.