Drug Testing Youngsters at Home
Drug Testing Youngsters at Home Save Email Print
Posted: 10:45 PM Dec 1, 2008
 Last Updated: 10:45 PM Dec 1, 2008
 Reporter: Randy Yohe
Email Address: randy.yohe@wsaz.com
15 comments
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GREENUP COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- At-home drug tests have become popular in an eastern Kentucky judicial district that includes parts of Greenup and Lewis counties.

Brian McCloud, the 20th District judge, said most of his juvenile cases are drug related. When he ordered the juveniles' parents to drug test their children, however, he hit an unexpected financial roadblock.

The home drug testing kits, which cost $5 each, proved so beneficial and so popular that nearly 500 have sold in Lewis and Greenup counties since July. McCloud started offering them in adult court and to the general public for $5 each and found the kits provide accountability and a way to keep current and, more importantly, potential offenders out of his courtroom and out of jail.

At Greenup County High School, many students and staff said the availability of do-it-yourself drug testing kits provide much needed accountability.

Kentucky state Rep. Tanya Pullin of South Shore helped get $3,000 for the successful program.

McCloud hopes other court districts will give the test kit sales a try. The $5 drug test kits are available at circuit court clerks' offices in Greenup and Lewis counties.

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Posted by: ky on Dec 3, 2008 at 06:28 AM
Great ideal. Drugs are killing our children. The American people need to support this ideal. Our local, state , federal governement should also. If this save one life it's worth all the money in the world. If you don't think there a problem in Greenup County go to courts on Mondays. When you go around the Courthouse look toward the right on Elizbeth Street and all those young people standing out side of the tan building is going to drug court.I want to Thank Judge McCloud in his efford in trying to save our children and grandchildren from this deadly addiction. Our families our schools our churchs our communities need to be educated on this so they can help these Judges on this fight againist Drugs. Thank you Thank you
Posted by: VERY GOOD on Dec 3, 2008 at 12:03 AM
THE ONLY NEGATIVE THING WITH THIS IS...I FEEL THAT THERE ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES WHO ARE USING DRUGS GO AND GET THESE TESTS JUST TO GO TEST THEMSELVES. TEST TO SEE IF THEY ARE CLEAN BEFORE THEY TAKE A DRUG TEST FOR EMPLOYMENT OR WHATEVER REASON TO TRY AND BEAT THE SYSTEM. I FORGOT TO MENTION JUDGE BOB CONLEY IN GREENUP COUNTY OF ALL JUDGES WHO I THOUGHT WOULD NEVER BE AS UNDERSTANDING AS HE IS WITH DRUG ADDICTION. THE MAN IS VERY STRICT IN HIS COURTROOM WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMES. HE HAS DONE WELL WITH THE DRUG COURT SINCE TAKING OVER AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. HE IS VERY COMPASSIONATE AND UNDERSTANDING WITH THE DISEASE TODAY, ALL BECAUSE HE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISEASE TODAY. JUDGE ROSEN IN BOYD COUNTY HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB AS WELL. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JUDGE'S.
Posted by: VERY GOOD on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:55 PM
I THINK IT IS A VERY GOOD IDEA...GOOD JOB JUDGE McCLOUD AND REP.TANYA PULLIN ON THIS VERY MUCH NEEDED PROGRAM. YOU DESERVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. IF WE COULD JUST GET TWO JUDGES IN BOYD COUNTY TO UNDERSTAND THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION AND TRY TO HELP THEM INSTEAD OF JUST HAMMERING ALL ACCUSED WHEN APPEARING IN COURT. I APPRAISE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY DAVID JUSTICE FOR HIS ARTICLE IN THE DAILY INDEPENDENT ABOUT THE RAGING DRUG EPIDEMIC. HE MADE MENTION, YOU CANT ARREST YOUR WAY THROUGH THIS DRUG PLAGUE. WE NEED MORE REHABS IN THIS AREA. WE NEED MORE JUDGES EDUCATED ON THE DISEASE OF ADDICTION AND HOW IT WORKS. THEM BEING EDUCATED WILL MORE THAN LIKELY HELP THEM MAKE A BETTER DECISION TO GET A MAN HELP FOR THE PROBLEM THAN TO THROW THE BOOK AT HIM. I REALIZE REPEAT OFFENDERS IT LEAVES YOU NO CHOICE. WE NEED MORE JUDGES LIKE JUDGE NICHOLS AND JUDGE ROSEN WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISEASE. NOT ONES TRYING TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES.
Posted by: anon on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:31 PM
elgin: you are wasting your breath trying to rationalize with these big government loving yokels.
Posted by: Pat on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:27 PM
How I wish that this had been available when my son was a teenager! He kept his drug use hidden. If I had known, so much heartbreak could have been avoided and he could have gotten the help he needed before we found out. Thank God, he has been drug free for over 20 years.
Posted by: elgin on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Mike, I was robbed of a carton of cigarettes four years ago. I dont think it had anything to do with the cigarettes being legal or illegal. Perhaps you have more experience with "crackheads." I, fortunately enough, was not raised around drugs. However, I was raised to respect differences of people. Mike, your way is not the only way people live. Eventhough you may be the typical person in WV, who other states often ridicule due to the lack of education on issues other than coal, you arent exactly a role model. The drug war goes a lot deeper than you could ever understand. Do yourself a favor and educate yourself on both sides. It is a civil rights issue. If the drug war continues the next four years then I think the people will have no choice but to vote for full prohibition of all drugs, including cigarettes, alchohol, and caffeine for starters. I am a man in my 50's and the only drug i do is coffee, and lots of it. It's depressing to see Americans brainwashed by bad policy.
Posted by: an on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Great program. An ounce of prevention is worth pound of cure.
Posted by: mike on Dec 2, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Elgin, I'll remember what you said below when your mother is car jacked by a crackhead!
Posted by: elgin on Dec 2, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Even within the U.S., support for the global “war on drugs” is waning. The foundational American values of liberty, privacy and limited government power have been severely undermined by drug war tactics. One in 100 adults in the U.S. are behind bars, largely due to drug laws, giving the U.S. the dubious distinction as the world’s leading jailer. With drug use, production and availability remaining steady, the American public is waking up to the reality that over-reliance on enforcement and incarceration is neither good for public safety nor economically sustainable. National public opinion polls bear this out, finding a sizable majority of Americans favor treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders. Freedom should not be optional, it should be mandatory.
Posted by: Hey now on Dec 2, 2008 at 09:56 AM
We will have to get the Kanawha Co. teachers union on this..
Posted by: A on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Wow I didn't know Boone County offered this. I think its a really good idea.
Posted by: anon on Dec 2, 2008 at 07:47 AM
wonderful idea
Posted by: Anonymous on Dec 2, 2008 at 01:08 AM
i like this idea.
Posted by: Helen K. on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:22 PM
This sounds like a good program that should be put in place everywhere.
Posted by: BCSD on Dec 1, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Boone County, WV Sheriff's Department offers this progam. The only catch is that the tests are 100% free to families to test their children. The cost is picked up by the department. They are available through any middle or high school in the county as well as any deputy sheriff of the department. No questions asked. STEP UP - Sheriffs-Teens-Educators-Parents-United-Program
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The Yell: Comments for the Week of 1/4
  • Posted By: Fixed that for you: Any one who is paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them. Its simple NO TEST, NO CHECK. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for our money to go to people in government and on welfare who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: Chris to WSAZ: To all the workers and employees of WSAZ: Thank you for being there and allowing comments about the news.Our family watch only WSAZ news and enjoy each of you. I know that the recognition that you receive is little to none,but you deserve better.This goes out to the producers,cameramen,to everyone behind the scenes and the ones that are seen too. Thank you for having the best news program available to the public. God Bless Each and Everyone of You. Chris
  • Posted By: redbaron: in response to pablo on comment dated 01/06 - EXCUSE ME!! I do believe FIREFIGHTERS also risk their lives for total strangers and no they are NOT law enforcement!
  • Posted By: omg: I am so sick and tired of hearing how public school teachers are indebted to the public for their salary. Many of you are so freakin nosey that if your neighbor stopped too fast, you'd have to get a crane to remove your head from their rear. I am so tired of this drug test line. Teachers deserve to pee in peace and so do you. Why should teachers be forced to have their personal lives paraded all over the news? That is exactly what would happen. If a typical joe blow got fired from the coal mines for drugs, it wouldn't make front page news. A teacher being fired for drugs would. You people expect teachers to be the mother, father, grandparent, clergyman, counselor, as well as the teacher. You don't do anything with your kids but expect the teacher to fix all the problem you create. Some of them probably need drugs by the time they are done raising your spoiled kids who think the world owes them something on a silver platter. Take your own drug test before you get pregnant.
  • Posted By: Sophie: Re: The student (Hinzman?) being expelled for using foul language after being bullied & beaten on school grounds; you should not have been expelled for expressing your hurt, anger & disgust. You were a victim and did nothing. It is unreasonable to punish the victim - so what if he cussed - I'd cuss too if someone beat the beegeebers out of me. The kid who beat you should receive jail time & counciling; the kid who filmed you & released it on U-Tube should too. It has often been said that television is desensitizing our children so badly they have no empathy for others. This is a prime example. I hope the school board will have enough common sense to clear this victims school record of the incident as he should not have been expelled, and get him counciling also as such a trauma will surly have an effect on a young life.
  • Posted By: Boyd: Any one who is employed and gets paid by the general public, us, should have no problem taking urine tests. After all they are in the pubic debt for paying them for their work. Its simple NO TEST, NO JOB. This is not an attempt to violate rights, it is an attempt to enforce the publics right for federal, state and municipal employees who can be TRUSTED.
  • Posted By: George: As a parent I have no problem being drug tested. I'll stand in line right behind Katy.
  • Posted By: goodorbad: I look at it like this-if you dont have anything to hide, shut up and do the test!
  • Posted By: Rick: I think all teachers should be drug tested, I drive a transit bus for our county and I want the public to know I am drug free and teachers should want everyone to know the same, that their children are not in the care of people on drugs,if you have nothing to hide why object to random testing I know I don't
  • Posted By: Tea: I can't even imagine that our teachers have not been drug tested up until this time. Anyone who refuses should be fired. These are our children!!! People take drug test when they don't even work with people, let alone children. These are government jobs and we should have a say in what they have to do.
  • Posted By: Ari: Cheers to Rob-I feel ya!
  • Posted By: joe: I have worked for companies all over this nation and have had to take drug tests. Why should teachers be exempt from this practice? It is now common to be randomly tested(and I have been) so what makes a teacher any different than a steel worker. I can say proudly that I passed but I have seen those who didn't. They chose to use drugs and lost their jobs I didn't.
  • Posted By: Katy: As a teacher, I have no problem being randomly drug tested...as long as you agree to drug test the parents who enter the doors of my school as well. Most teachers deal with students who are exposed to/use more drugs and alcohol than any of the teachers. If these students or parents who are using drugs (and are not drug tested) enter our schools, the safety of the teachers and students are at risk. Since children spend more time with them, let's randomly drug test PARENTS, too!!!
  • Posted By: stephen: Why the heavy emphasis ont he damage to property and life Israel is doing . Where was the media uproar for years that Hamas was rocketing Israel irespective of innocent israelis.. Hamas is actualykilling their own citizens by firing rockets from UN schools and residents. Why does UN allow Hamas to use facilities for attacking Israel, then complain when Israel responds to protect their territory and citizens. Israel targets military targets, respons to from whence rockets or gun fire comes. What would we fire at if Huntington was attacked?Why does the media not put bla,e where balame belongs, and give moral support to the aggreived.What would America do if attacked? to whom would we listen? Russia, Saudi Arabia,Iran?.Media get REAL! Who has given Hamas and the Palestinians millions with which they could buy weapons---American taxpayers money!
  • Posted By: Robert: Although I feel for the employees that lost their positions at Cabell Huntington Hospital, at least more nurses were hired. I recently had a relative in the cardiac unit at Kings Daughters, in Ashland, and I was told that the nursing staff had been cut back and that no overtime was being given. This seems to be a drastic cut in patient care for a facility that spends thousands advertising that they are in the top 5% of cardiac hospitals in the country. I would be willing to wager that the Cleveland Clinic has not cut hours of those giving patient care.
  • Posted By: Boyd: If the state's budget is doing so well, why don't we use some of this money to help towns and cities in the state who are in trouble with their budget, or will this just become another pay raise for politicians?
  • Posted By: Rob: Why does everyone have to be so into using the term "racist" and have that kind of attitude. I know what my heritage is and who my ancestors were but you want to know what I consider myself? I AM AN AMERICAN! I was born and raised in this country and that's how I feel it should be. Born here, raised here.....then by God you are an American. Not an African American, not an Asian American etc. etc. You are an AMERICAN!
  • Posted By: Chris: To Ex-Officer: I agree with you 100% about the pay of police dept and the drug testing. I was formerly involved with the BCPD and had multiple ride alongs with the BCSO. I am probably one of their biggest critics due to having watch some of the bad side of the department for a long time. I wish that I could tell everything that I have seen officers do,which would put most of them behind bars or they'll lose their sheild, But retalliation is bad in our area. To the cops that do their job and do it with the best intentions, I proud of you and don't mean any disrespect. To the ones who I personally watch being more currupt then the "badguys" here,your day will be coming.
  • Posted By: Pablo: Teachers aren't the only ones underpaid. Law enforcement officers are underpaid also. And I'd like to speak about them. For example, I'm sure any parent would sacrifice their live for thier children. And several may give thier live to save their spouse. A few individuals may even do it for a close friend. But, I only know of 3 types of beings who will sacrifice thier lives for complete strangers; indeed even for people who hate them. The first would be our men and women in our armed forces. The second would be our law enforcement officers. And of course, third would be our Savior, Jesus Christ. Others are killed in the line of their employment, but not in order to save a complete stranger. Everytime a cop puts on his/her uniform, they can be a target for anyone upset about something. Even though it doesn't involve the cop personally, that very cop will give his life to save yours when a problem arises. We need to give our cops not only a wage, but a living wage and a great big THANKS.
  • Posted By: Craig: If what I am hearing is correct that Kanawha County teachers accepted a pay raise in return for submitting to drug testing, and then sued successfully so they do not have to be subject to testing, then why shouldn't we the taxpayers demand they return the raise?
  • Posted By: teresa: racist lmao i am one cherokee,german,irish,german,and who knows what else TIRED of hearing of racist comments u are either GOOD OR BAD k no skin color needed just evil or NOT
  • Posted By: Ex-Officer: I agree with Robert 100% I worked in law enforcement and loved the job but try to rise a family on less than 10.00 an hour (out of that pay for your own duty gear and gun). I believe that all public safety workers should be drug tested but i also believe that they should be paid for the job that they do. Not many people understand what a public safty worker goes through. Would you put your life on the line for this kind of pay? Remember the saying that you get what you pay for. I see this in several new officers in my area. Don't get me wrong there are still very good officers in law enforcement. Something really needs to be done about the low pay for these jobs.
  • Posted By: Garland: What's the difference between teachers and other workers(coal mineers, bus drivers, state employees,etc.)? Teachers aren't any better are they?
  • Posted By: : This is not a comment, but I would like comments on it please. What do you think of Poca High School? Racist or not?
  • Posted By: Robert: We the people, through our own self centeredness and apathy, have allowed our teachers and police officials to be some of the most underpaid people in the United States. We are trusting our childrens education and our public safety to the very people that are some of the most underpaid profesions in the U.S.. If I could change this, I would. However, I do believe that these people should be randomly drug tested. I work in the construction industry and I have no problem being drug tested. I have nothing to hide. I also believe that any person who is intrusted with the safety of others should have nothing to hide. This includes plitical officials up to and including the president.
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