DRUG SCREENINGS HELP FIND PROBLEMS

Drug screenings can be an effective first step or early screening tool for
concerned parents, caregivers, spouses and partners, according to
Specialized Outpatient Services Inc. Today drug use is prevalent within our
society, especially among teen-agers, says James Patterson, the agency's
executive director. Many times suspicions are not followed and problems go
unidentified for years because parents do not:

1. Know where to turn or what to do.

2. Have information about local resources.

3. Want to believe that their child could be using drugs or alcohol.

Drug screenings can be a discrete, private, specific way for parents and
other concerned parties to follow their concerns, identify, intervene and
prevent drug/alcohol use early on, before the problem gets worse, Patterson
says.

Specialized Outpatient Services offers a complete seven-panel basic drug
screening, which tests for cocaine, methamphetamines (ecstasy), marijuana,
opiates, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and alcohol. Each screening costs
from $15 to $20 depending on the frequency of testing and family income.

The agency also offers in-home drug screening kits. These kits are
specifically designed to help concerned parents, caregivers and partners
screen for substance use with their children, teen-agers and partners.

Each kit can test from one to six panels of drugs (cocaine, marijuana,
opiates, amphetamine, methamphetamines (ecstasy), PCP, barbiturates,
benzodiazepines and methadone). The kit gives results within 5 minutes and
allows each sample result to be confirmed by the toxicology lab at no extra
cost.

Each drug screening kit contains testing devices, collection cups,
instructional pamphlet and collection kits (upon request). It costs from $8
to $20 depending on the number of drugs tested.

Specialized Outpatient Services is a non-profit substance abuse/behavioral
health services agency.

For more information, call 810-1766.