TESTING THE KIDS

In an effort to help parents determine if their child is using a
controlled substance, the Malheur County Sheriff's Office is now
offering a free, voluntary and confidential drug testing program.
And, if the results come back positive, there will be no prosecution.

"We want this to be clear. Once we have the results, that's where it
stops," MCSO Undersheriff Brian Wolfe said. "It's not prosecutable.
First of all, it's voluntary and secondly, in Oregon, there is no
charge for consumption of a controlled substance. We just want
parents to know that this testing is for their own information. We're
not going to be writing a report on it. It's not going to the
district attorney or the juvenile officer."

In fact, Wolfe said the child's name is not even listed as part of
the procedure.

The free drug testing came about as a result of repeated calls by
parents to the sheriff's office, asking if there was any way they
could find out if their child was under the influence of drugs.

"With alcohol, that's pretty obvious, just by the odor of the
alcoholic beverage," Wolfe said.

While drug tests are available over the counter in most drug stores
or through a hospital emergency room, those tests cost money.

Wolfe said the sheriff's office already had the simple "InCup" tests
on hand and decided to purchase more of the kits, which cost between
$20 and $30, with money from its Crime Prevention fund. Parents or
legal guardians can contact the sheriff's office and request their
child be tested, either at the sheriff's office or at their own home.

There is no liability release for parents to sign and no records are
kept of the testing or the results.

"The child gives us a urine sample and within seconds, we know if
that child has been using drugs," Wolfe said.

The simple test screens for cocaine, meth and marijuana.

If the result comes back positive, there will be no charges pressed,
Wolfe said.

"What we will do is help that parent get help for their child, so we
can steer them to the right resources, whether it's counseling
through Lifeways or other places. We provide them with information on
where to get help."

The Ontario Police Department has a similar program called "Parent
Aid" promoted by the Oregon Chiefs of Police Association, OPD Capt.
Mark Alexander said. The Ontario program has been underway for three
years now, he said.

Wolfe stressed the privacy of the testing program.

"We don't even ask the kid's name. It's truly confidential," he said.
"We just hope to be able to help somebody."