How-to Guide for Administering an at Home Drug Test
Using a drug test kit at home is an easy and cost-effective way to make sure your teen is on the right path. While it can seem challenging, Evolve is here to walk you through every step so that your child can get the help they need.
Home testing is most effective when used as a preventive measure. Although drug testing can be used as a consequence or to “catch someone,” viewing it as a punishment can lead to increased conflict and resistance. When possible, approaching drug screens from a preventative place allows the opportunity to work together with your teen and to be on the same side. Let them know you support and understand their efforts to improve. This gives you more opportunity to align with your child, which can increase willingness on their part to submit to testing.
Before Testing: Agree on Frequency & Consequences
Before drug testing your teen, come to an agreement with them about the frequency of testing and how you will both respond to the results. Having an open and clear conversation and coming to these agreements before starting at home drug testing will help establish clear expectations for everyone and limit future disagreements.
Setting Expectations Ahead of Time
Ideally, you and your teen would agree on the frequency of testing (1 random test per week vs 2 random tests a week). Ensure there is a sustained period of consistent negative tests and visible progress toward recovery goals before making changes. Consistency, even across households, is key and can improve outcomes. Adjustments, such as reducing testing frequency, should be gradual and only after consistent success at each step. Confirm that everyone involved in the decision-making process agrees on changes to testing frequency, and if your child is in therapy or treatment, always consult their provider before implementing changes. Changing protocol too quickly can increase the risk of returning to use.
Agree that when talking about tests and results everyone will use honest, nonjudgmental language and focus on support and problem-solving, rather than blame.
You should also agree on appropriate and specific consequences (loss of privileges, increased testing, engagement with sober community/sponsor, etc.).
And last, agree that refusing to test at the agreed-upon time will give the impression that recent use has occurred, and this should be considered a positive test result.
Find The Right At Home Drug Test For Your Teen
When drug testing at home, make sure you choose the proper test kit. There are multi-panel drug tests equipped to handle different types of substances. The most important factor when choosing the right drug testing kit is checking which substances are included on the test panel. You want to make sure you use a test that is capable of detecting the substance you are looking for. For example, if your child struggles with amphetamine use, you’ll want to make sure the test you choose can detect amphetamines.
It is important to note that certain substances will not show up on a standard panel test (some examples are alcohol, fentanyl, and mushrooms). However, for some substances (but not all), you can find single test strips that will test for those specifically.
Please note that urine drug screens can indicate the presence of substances in the system but cannot determine current intoxication levels or the exact timing of use. Different substances have varying detection windows, some of which are very short. This is why administering more than one test per week, especially initially, is recommended.
Testing for Specific Substances
Types of at Home Drug Tests
Urine Cup Test
A urine test cup with integrated strips detects drugs directly in the sample, displaying results on the cup’s side or via a built-in reader in the lid.
- 6-Panel Cup Test: This 6-panel cup test can be purchased on Amazon and can detect Amphetamine, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Morphine/Opiates, Oxycodone, and Cannabinoids. Note, tests often refer to acronyms for these terms – please refer to our FAQs section below.
- 12-Panel Cup Test: This 12-panel cup test can be purchased on Amazon and can detect Amphetamine, Barbiturates, Buprenorphine, Benzodiazepines, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Methamphetamines, Morphine, Methadone, Oxycodone, Phencyclidine, and Cannabinoids.
Urine Dip Test
A drug test strip or panel is dipped into a urine sample collected in a container, providing visible results to detect drugs.
- 5-Panel Dip Test: This 5-panel dip test can be purchased on Amazon and can detect Amphetamine, Cocaine, Morphine, Cannabinoids, and Oxazepam/Benzodiazepines.
Steps to Administering At Home Drug Tests
Step 1: Check For Hiding Places
Before handing your child the test, check their pockets and have them take off extra clothing layers. You want to make sure they are not bringing anything into the bathroom with them.
Step 2: Set Expectations
When you hand your child the testing cup, remind them that they cannot flush the toilet or wash their hands until after they have given you the test back. After they give you the cup they can return to the bathroom, flush, and wash their hands. This is an important step to limit potential that tests are being deluded or tampered with. You do not need a lot of urine for the test, just enough for it to reach the test strips.
Step 3: Stay Close
Remember, once you ask them to take the test, stay with them until they take that test, even if just outside the bathroom.
Step 4: Read The Results
Once you have the cup, you can begin looking at the results. We recommend reading results out of sight of your child if possible.
Temperature Reading: Some cups have a temperature reading on the cup. The sample should be between 90-100 degrees. It is important to read this result within 2-4 minutes after collecting the sample. Even if it doesn’t have a temperature reading, when the cup is handed to you, you are looking for the sample to feel body temp. Not too hot and not cold.
Results: When interpreting results, look at the lines for every test strip.
Positive: ONE control line indicates a positive result.
Negative: TWO lines indicate a negative result. This means two lines no matter how faint the second line is.
Invalid: If you see no lines or a missing control line on the test strip, that means the test is not valid and it is not an accurate reading.
The Three B’s to Remember When Drug Testing at Home
Be Consistent With Protocol
Being consistent with protocol means once you’ve established a testing routine, make sure you are doing that every time you are administering one. We want to be clear with our teens and to give consistent messaging. When we have a set structure, there is less room for pushback and less room for potential arguments or power struggles in the future.
Be Random With Tests
In addition to consistency, we should also be random with tests. For teens, random testing helps maintain accountability during early recovery by addressing motivation dips and using thoughts. For parents, if you are administering tests randomly, then there is less of a chance they will be able to anticipate testing, which can decrease likelihood of them tampering with the results. It doesn’t make it impossible, but it does make it more challenging.
Be Prepared For Pushback
Make sure you’re prepared for pushback. Sometimes when you request a drug test, they may respond with an excuse or tell you it’s not a good time. Regardless of the reason, you want to be prepared on how you’re going to respond. Even if they have a good reason, don’t veer from being consistent with protocol. And remember to only request a test if you have time to wait, reducing pushback and ensuring they successfully take it.
Common Things Your Teen Might Say & How to Respond
Navigating conversations about drug testing with your teen can be challenging, but preparation can make a significant difference. Here are common things your teen might say during these moments, along with empathetic responses to maintain trust while staying consistent with your approach.
Provide positive feedback for honesty while ensuring the drug test is still taken. After taking the test, discuss the situation using nonjudgmental language, validate struggles, and apply agreed-upon consequences. Following protocol is crucial, as admissions may not always reveal the full extent of use.
Responding to Positive Results When Drug Testing
You should speak with your teen before you start drug testing them at home to agree upon the frequency of testing and HOW you will both respond to the results. Ideally, you and your teen will have already agreed on how to talk about the results and what would happen if the results were positive. Let’s break down how to respond in the moment.
Sit With Your Emotions
After you get the test results, take a moment before addressing it with your teen. Notice your emotions and make sure they are not in the driver’s seat. The goal is to respond rather than react and focus on the most helpful way to proceed.
Share With Your Teen
Share this with your teen and give them the opportunity to acknowledge recent use and share what happened. Plan to allow space for honesty and then respond in a nonjudgmental way. Validate any struggles that may have contributed to the drug use.
Are they being honest?
If they are honest about using, provide positive reinforcement– “Thank you for your honesty– that really helps with rebuilding trust and gives me the chance to support you.”
Are they denying?
If they deny any recent use, resist urges to push or argue. That can feel really challenging in these moments but instead, offer to complete another test and reiterate that you can only go off what the test says. If your teen continues to deny recent use, suggest getting tested at a lab to ensure accurate results. Additionally, consider reaching out to your child’s medical professional to determine if any of their prescribed medications could have contributed to the positive result.
Moving Forward
Implement the previously agreed-upon consequences for positive tests, keeping in mind that risks vary by substance and false positives can occur due to medications or foods. A positive result alone doesn’t confirm the need for treatment; consult a medical provider or seek an assessment from a counselor or treatment center if concerned about substance use disorder.
Warning
Certain substances indicate more immediate cause for concern than others due to the increased risk of overdose and withdrawal symptoms. If your child is testing positive for opiates, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamines, or benzodiazepines, this would be an indicator to seek professional evaluation and to consider treatment.
Contact Evolve’s admissions team today for a free phone assessment to help determine what level of care your teen needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Marijuana: 1–30+ days depending on use frequency.
- Cocaine: 1–3 days.
- Alcohol: 12–24 hours (via urine).
Consider your child’s history or consult with a professional. Higher-panel tests or specific single-strip tests can be useful for more comprehensive screening.
AMP: Amphetamine
BAR: Barbiturates
BUP: Buprenorphine
BZO: Benzodiazepines also known as Oxazepam
MDMA: Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
MET/mAMP: Methamphetamines
MOP/OPI: Morphine (Opiates)
MTD: Methadone
OXY: Oxycodone
PCP: Phencyclidine
THC: Cannabinoids
Gradually reducing the frequency of testing can be considered after an extended period of consistent negative results and visible progress in their recovery. Discuss this with your teen’s treatment provider.
Most at-home drug tests are accurate but not infallible. Medications or certain foods can cause false positives. Confirm unexpected results with a lab test or your child’s healthcare provider.
No, standard tests may not detect substances like alcohol, fentanyl, mushrooms, or inhalants. You may need to purchase single-test strips or higher-panel tests for specific substances.
This depends on your agreement with your teen. A common starting point is 1–2 random tests per week, especially in early recovery or when concerns about substance use are high. Random and frequent testing can help catch recent use without relying on detection windows.
Home drug testing can serve as a preventive measure and accountability tool to support your teen’s recovery journey. It provides an opportunity for open conversations and helps build trust when approached collaboratively.
Yes, there are several support options for families. Substance use affects the whole family, not just the individual using substances. Seeking professional guidance or joining mutual support groups like SMART Recovery Friends and Family, or Al-Anon, offer valuable resources and a sense of community for those in similar situations.
You can purchase at home drug tests online from multiple websites including 12panelnow.com or even Amazon. Please see the tests linked above under the How Do I Find The Right Test For My Teen?
Yes, certain foods and medications can cause false positives. Consult with a medical professional to help determine what could have contributed to the positive test result. An example of this could be a positive result for PCP after having taken certain cold medicines containing Dextromethorphan. If your teen did not recently have a medical reason for taking cough medicine, this could be a sign of misuse of over-the-counter medication to get high.
Additional Resources
Looking for additional resources? Check out our links below to continue.
Trends and Signs of Drug Use in Adolescents
This parent webinar provides information on current drug trends in adolescents, warning signs of drug use, and recommended steps to intervene if you see these warning signs.
Guide to Teen Substance Use Treatment
Learn more about the different levels of care and treatment approaches for teens who are struggling with substance use.
