Using Home Drug Tests: Can Teens Beat a Home Drug Test Kit?

By Dr. Deb Carlin

If you've seen what you think might be the signs of drug use or symptoms of drug use in your teen and are considering the idea of using home drug tests, but have worries that your teen might try to beat a drug test if you administered it, then you aren't alone. If your teen is able to beat a home drug test, then you could get the false impression that no drug problem exists. Ignorance is not bliss.

Good urine-based, home drug tests come with adulterant detectors to indicate when someone has tampered with a sample. Transparent home drug test kit designs also make it possible to see when foreign substances have been added to a sample. Temperature strips are built into the kits to ensure that a sample is fresh and watching a child urinate can help prevent substitution too. The idea of cheating successfully on a saliva based home drug test kit performed right in front of the parent is even a bigger stretch of the imagination.

If a parent catches a teen attempting to beat a home drug test, then I would encourage them to seek professional help as soon as possible. That's a significant indicator that the teen is not simply experimenting with drugs and is more likely committed to continued use.

If you have seen signs of drug use and are REALLY worried that your teen will cheat on a urine-based, home drug test kit, then there is another very simple option. Administer a hair test. Hair can be collected at home and sent to a lab. Adulteration attempts won't work on most good lab tests performed on hair.

If you want to know more about using home drug tests or picking out the best home drug test for your teen, or the steps to starting a home drug testing program, then do your homework. Preparation prevents problems.