Using Home Drug Tests: Home Drug Test Privacy or a Trip to the Doctor's Office?

If you've seen the signs of drug use or symptoms of drug use in your teen and are considering the idea of using home drug tests to solve your problems before they get worse, then you might be wondering if you want to buy a home drug test or take your son or daughter to see your local doctor.

Since instant drug tests offer accuracy that compares favorably to lab results, many doctors are using the same type of instant drug test kits you can get and use at home, in their doctor's office.

So, what's the difference? First, it will be more expensive. Second, do you really want a record of your child's drug test on file?

The health records may be secure and confidential today, but as the shift continues toward electronic record keeping, there are legitimate security risks in the future, not the least of which is who has access to those records. Will private doctors always possess sole access to those records, or could access expand to insurance companies or government agencies?

Can anyone guarantee that in the future, no laws will be changed that would allow insurance companies, government agencies or anyone else for that matter, access to your child's medical records? Nobody can guarantee it. By contrast, when home drug tests are used, there is no written medical record and the results are kept private between you and your child, as they should be.

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, let me encourage you to visit the resources at TestMyTeen.com for more information including program checklists, counselor approved strategies and video tutorials that are available at no charge.