Updated Apr 19, 2012 - 10:38 am
Valley parents find ally in free drug-testing kits
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Print | Originally published: Apr 19, 2012 - 10:17 am
![teen-drug-abuse[1].jpg](http://media.bonnint.net/az/10/1058/105864.jpg)
MESA, Ariz. -- The group ‘notMYkid' is distributing 1,000 free drug-testing kits to parents today at Rural Metro's Southwest Ambulance headquarters at 708 W. Baseline Road, Mesa and at the notMYkid headquarters at 5230 E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale.
The ‘First Check Home Drug Test' kit pinpoints more than a dozen drugs including methamphetime, heroin, and what has become the drug of choice among children and teens, oxycontin.
KTAR spoke with a Valley mother who broke down in tears as she picked up five of the kits for the grandchildren she now has to raise because their parents abandoned them.
"There's a lot of pressure today on kids that parents don't realize because parents are under pressure to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads."
Amy Evans is a paramedic with Southwest Ambulance and also a mom. Evans has been on many calls involving children and drugs. Some have turned deadly.
"It's heartbreaking and a majority of the parents up until that point when it's too late had no idea the child was using drugs."
Debbie Moak, co-founder of the not-for-profit notMYkid, said the average age for experimentation with drugs is 13 and it typically takes two years for parents to realize their child is using drugs.
