Posts Tagged ‘drug testing’

School Board Discusses Random Drug Testing

Mar
21
Simms, on the topic of  Drugs, School
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Should high school students be subjected to random drug testing? That’s a question the Davis Board of Education is considering saying “yes” to.

Photo: Francis Storr

A vote among school board members came out with five members voting for and two against the preliminary random drug testing policy. The policy would allow every high school within the Davis County boundaries to randomly test five students each week for a variety of substances.

Which Students Would be Tested for Drugs?

According to reports, the drug testing policy was requested by school administrators and parents. As currently written, the random drug testing would affect student government officers, student athletes and cheerleaders. If given final approval, the policy will go into effect next year.

Although there wasn’t a lot of opposition at the recent school board meeting, once people get a chance to consider the concept more fully it will be interesting to see whether the random drug testing policy is easily approved or if there are more people who speak out against the potential governmental intrusion into their kids’ personal lives. After all, children have rights, too—as far as we know.

Do You Have an Opinion on this Issue?

What’s your opinion on random drug testing of high school students? Also, do you think it makes sense that only the athletes, cheerleaders and student leadership will be tested? Maybe there are some more questions that should be answered before a final decision is made. If you have concerns either way about this issue, don’t wait to contact the Davis School Board.

Kids Need Legal Representation Too

You should know that if your child ever ends up in legal trouble there are excellent Utah juvenile defense attorneys available to help him. It doesn’t matter whether his problems are drug-related or a different offense. One of the best ways to help your child is to talk to a Utah juvenile defense attorney today.

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Drug Testing for Utah Juveniles

Jan
05
Simms, on the topic of  Drugs
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When juveniles in Utah have to go through drug testing with the juvenile court system, there are some recommendations that the courts suggest each child follows:

Photo: Kevin Lau

1. Always cooperate with the probation officer. Now is not the time to try and change the rules by behaving angrily or with hostility.
2. Answer questions honestly. Your probation officer will generally be able to tell if you’ve lied, so be up-front with him or her when you first walk in the room.
3. When a court has ordered that you go through random drug testing, you are required to submit to such testing as required by your probation officer. You normally have two hours’ time within which you must provide your urine sample or you will be considered in violation of a court order.
4. If your urine tests positive for drugs, you may be subject to further penalties from the Court. All test results will be given to the Court.
5. Remember to tell your probation officer about any prescribed medications you are taking. It is required, and it may have an effect on your urine sample. Be prepared to have proof from your doctor that he or she prescribed the medication.
6. You retain the right to challenge any positive drug test. This will be done at your own expense.
7. Your drug test results will not be kept a secret from your parents. You, your parents or guardian(s) and the Court will all receive a copy of the final results.

The best time to consult an attorney is at the beginning of your child’s case. Don’t wait until your son or daughter has been convicted and is forced to undergo drug testing.

You might be surprised at how helpful an effective, experienced Utah juvenile defense attorney can be in your child’s situation. Contact an attorney today if you have questions about a juvenile case your child is involved in.

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Juvenile Court 2011 Community Report

Sep
30
Simms, on the topic of  Juvenile Court
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In the Juvenile Court’s 2011 Report to the Community, the Court focused on six main areas including: Delinquency Referrals, Juvenile Crime, Law Abiding Behavior, Drug Testing, Restitution Paid and Community Service.

Delinquency Referrals

Photo: Jake Przespo

The report noted that delinquency referrals can be made different agencies such as the local police department or a school. Delinquency referrals can be made for felonies, misdemeanors, contempt of court, status, infraction and traffic offenses. Felony offenses would include burglary and robbery, to name two possibilities. Misdemeanors might include theft or shoplifting. Status offenses are only a problem because of the age of the violator, such as alcohol possession. One type of infraction is disorderly conduct. Traffic offenses committed by juveniles may be referred to juvenile court.

Juvenile Crime

The delinquency referral rate can be an indicator of juvenile crime. The rate is measured per 1,000 members of the Utah population who are juveniles ages 10 to 17. The report stated that delinquency referrals for all six types of crime were lower in 2010 than they were in 2009.

Law Abiding Behavior

A juvenile is likely showing progress if he does not re-offend after his first offense finds him referred to the juvenile justice system. The report details the re-offender rates from 2006 to 2008. Females tend to re-offend less often, and 2007 shows a slightly higher re-offender rate than the other two years.

Drug Testing

According to the report, a juvenile offender’s lack of drug use can help the court determine the progress the juvenile is making towards achieving law abiding behavior. That makes sense for anyone, since drug use can create numerous problems for people who become addicted. There was a small increase in positive drug test results for both males and females from 2009 to 2010.

Restitution Paid

An important goal of Juvenile Court is seeing that juvenile offenders pay restitution to victims of their crimes. In 2010, 90% of the restitution owed was paid by juvenile offenders.

Community Service

Community service hour fulfillment also holds youth responsible for their actions. Over 245,000 hours of community service were rendered in 2010. That represents more than $980,000 in taxpayer benefits.

If you have questions about your child’s juvenile court case, don’t wait to consult an attorney. Let him help you navigate the juvenile justice system on you and your child’s behalf.

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Your child’s medication could cause them to fail a drug test in Utah

Jun
14
jessica, on the topic of  Drugs
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    photo: PinkMoose

    photo: PinkMoose

  • Amoxicillin : your child is on cocaine
  • Nasal Sprays (Afrin): your child tests positive for Ecstasy and Amphetamines
  • Robitussin Cold and Flu: once again Ecstasy, MDMA, or Meth

If you or your child is tested at school for athletics or drug tested for another reason their tests may show positive results for many types of drugs. However, these results do not necessarily indicate that you/your child is on drugs. Many common medications that young adults and children take have the ability to cause false positives on drug tests. Both over-the-counter drugs and prescribed medications can do this. Low quality tests and non-certified testing centers can make these false positives more common with lower quality equipment and less in-depth testing. A more extensive list of these common medications can be found at AskDocWeb. This article also lists many sources of reference that explain the reasons for and commonness of these false positives. If you feel that you or your child has been wrongly accused of failing a drug test it is important to contact the most qualified attorney you can so your/your child’s record will not be tarnished for the use of a simple and legal medication.

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