Parents and guardians concerned that their children may be using drugs can now act on those concerns in their own homes.
The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, is offering home drug-testing kits — at no charge, and with no questions asked.
“We don’t expect any information from the families about their children,” Sheriff Stan Hudson said Tuesday.
“We want to partner with parents to help deter their children from using drugs.
“If we’re unable to prevent them from using it, we want to partner with the parents to catch it early, as early in the child’s life as possible.
“Hopefully, this test will let your child know that you care enough about them to check on them.”
The test kits check a urine sample for methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates, THC (marijuana) and benzodiazepines (a class of prescription drugs including Xanax, Valium, Klonopin and others).
The procedure is relatively simple: collect the sample, dip the indicator strips for 10-15 seconds, wait 5 minutes and read the results — negative, positive, or invalid.
If the test comes back positive, Hudson said, parents should seek a second, professional test at a hospital.
“These test kits can give a false positive,” he said. “That’s why it’s recommended to go to the hospital to have a more conclusive drug screening.”
The Caldwell County Hospital is working with the task force and the sheriff’s department to provide that secondary testing service at a reduced price of $25.
Each test kit also includes brochures, provided by the Pennyroyal Center, with information on what to do if a child tests positive for drug use. “They provide all kinds of services at all levels,” the sheriff said.
Hudson offered the department’s assistance to any family concerned with drug use.
“We are only offering these tests as a tool to help parents face the challenges of raising children in today’s society,” he said.
The test kits were provided by the task force to sheriff’s departments throughout the Pennyrile region and in most of the Purchase area.
For more information, call the sheriff’s department at 365-2088.
Parents are also invited to a community drug forum, “Not My Child! (Are You Sure?),” set to begin at noon today at the Area 2 State Fire/Rescue Training Center.
Featured speakers include Cheyenne Albro, director of the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, the Rev. Curtis McGehee, chaplain for the Muhlenberg County Sheriff’s Department, and Robert Morck, director of Western Kentucky Teen Challenge. Each will address a particular aspect of the drug problem existing here and across the state.
“You won’t have a panel like this together very often,” said Hudson, who will introduce the speakers.
“If you have any questions about drugs, I strongly suggest you come to this meeting,” he said. “Every county’s having problems with it. Every day they’re dealing with this.”
The forum is free and open to the community. Lunch will be provided, furnished by the sheriff’s department and the Caldwell County Champions Coalition.
