COUNTY ANNOUNCES DRUG TEST KITS AVAILABLE

Parents who want a deterrent to drug use or suspect their child
already may be using drugs will have an affordable drug test close to
home.

The Crow Wing County Board on Tuesday announced the availability of
drug test kits through the county's health department. The urine
analysis kits, which are available over-the-counter for $30, will be
discounted to county residents for $10 plus tax.

Terry Sluss, county board chairman and methamphetamine prevention
coordinator, said he is aware of the controversial nature of random
drug testing.

Meth test kits

Can be used to test for meth, ecstasy, marijuana, amphetamines,
opiates and heroine.

Cost $10 plus 65 cents tax.

Available from the Crow Wing County Health Department, 219 Laurel St.,
Brainerd.

For more information, call the meth hotline at 822-METH or (877)
822-METH.

Sluss said he used to think it was an invasion of privacy, but said
the availability of meth and other drugs in the community was changing
his mind.

Parents will be able to randomly test their children in the privacy of
their homes. Sluss said it was an early intervention option.

Several students happened to attend Tuesday's county board meeting for
school projects. They pointed out there are ways to manipulate urine
tests. Sluss agreed. But he said the tests provide preliminary results
immediately to parents and then samples can be mailed, at no
additional cost beyond stamps, to an FBI lab for additional tests.
Those tests can pick out other substances, including those that may be
used in an attempt to counteract a positive test. Sluss said the tests
are 99.9 percent accurate.

Test kits include a personal identification number. Once the tests are
mailed to the lab, parents can call a toll-free number, use the PIN
and receive additional results.

"Parents will have the choice of deciding what they are going to do,"
Sluss said, adding the point is prevention of meth use.

Sluss previewed a new county newsletter titled "The Meth Monitor,"
with the first issue set for publication next month. Commissioners
suggested the newsletter should be mailed to school districts and
anyplace young people gather, from 4-H clubs to churches.