La Verne Teens React to At-Home Drug Tests

Editor’s note: The following letters are from students at Bonita High School in La Verne.

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I am responding to the Jan. 23 article “To Test or Not to Test: That Is the Question.” I am not in agreement with the idea of home drug testing. Parents should not be able to test their children. It is an invasion of privacy.

If there is a problem, parents should help, not judge.

RYAN T. PERRIMAN

San Dimas

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I believe that a home drug test is a good way for parents to see what is really going on in their teenagers’ lives.

I agree with some of the comments, such as, “Drug testing is important, but it’s got to be done for the right reasons.” That’s true. Parents can’t use it as a “Gotcha” thing because that will make matters worse between them and their child.

I also agree that not only are young people becoming more willing to experiment with drugs, but that at the same time parents don’t know what their kids are doing and feel uncomfortable talking to them about drug use.

Teenagers would most likely be offended by tests, but should see it from a different point of view. Instead of thinking their parents don’t trust them, they should see it as a good thing because their parents care and don’t want them to destroy their lives.

ROSA ROSAS

La Verne

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Having your parents tell you to pee in a cup isn’t the most comfortable idea, even if you aren’t using drugs.

This is an issue that needs to be discussed between parent and child, not just decided upon by the parents. If the parents come openly to the kid and say they suspect drug use, hopefully the kid will be honest and responsible enough to tell the truth.

I honestly don’t think parents have a right to pry into kids’ lives without consent.

JONATHAN ALBRIGO

La Verne

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I an 18 and I definitely feel that home drug tests are a good idea. Kids might feel untrusted by their parents, but if they give parents a reason to be suspicious, then they have to deal with the consequences.

I think at-home drug tests will lower the percentage of teenage kids doing drugs. Scared that their parents will test them, they will stop doing drugs or decrease their usage.

PATTI LEE

San Dimas

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Your article stated that some people feel hesitant to use the test because their children will refuse and get angry. This just shows that children have control over the parents and that the adults are afraid to bother them.

This is just terrible, hearing that the adults of America would rather risk drug abuse than set a few household rules.

CHRIS BATTE

La Verne