11-04-2007: The Star Ledger

11-04-2007: The Star Ledger

In teens we don't trust
November 4, 2007

Your teen has been acting strangely lately -- kind of zoned out, hanging out with new friends, dressing differently. Is it just adolescence or is something more sinister going on?

Paranoid parents can find out if their kids are doing drugs with a new drug test that doesn't require your kid to provide a urine sample.

Confirm Biosciences in San Diego has a new kit, Hairconfirm, that analyzes hair samples to determine if any substances have been used in the past 90 days.

The technology measures traces in the hair follicle, and the company advertises that it can provide results within 24 to 48 hours and can detect how often the subject is using drugs, from recreational to daily use. Substances tested include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, PCP and codeine.

The kit costs $79.99 and can be purchased at Duane Reed drug stores, on Amazon.com cvs.com and on the company's Web site, www.confirmbiosciences.com.

-- Peggy O'Crowley

Question of the week: Drug test your kids?
Posted by jpbakes November 04, 2007 12:01AM

Categories: Question of the Week

Would you use Hairconfirm (see "In excess" below) if you suspected your teen was using drugs?

Would you take a hair sample while he or she is sleeping or let them know what you are doing?

How would you confront them with the results?

If you've got an answer or a story to share -- anonymously, if you must -- e-mail pg@starledger.com or visit the Parental Guidance blog at blog.nj.com/parentalguidance.