Township police offer free drug test kits

Officials hope interest in the kits increases in the fall.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- Township police have made in-home drug testing kits available to residents at no cost -- and are wondering why only a few have taken advantage of the offer.
Anthony Slifka, township police chief, told trustees in April that a township resident gave the police department a $1,000 donation, allowing the department to join the Law Enforcement Against Drugs program. The program permits law enforcement agencies to buy drug-testing kits for home use.
The kits, police said, test a urine sample from an individual for traces of illegal drugs.
Slifka said the township has bought $1,000 worth and is ready to distribute these to township residents upon request. The problem, he said, is that only a few residents have taken advantage.
"I would think that if I had a kid and thought they were doing something wrong, I would have one of these in my house ready for testing," he said.
Slifka said part of the reason for the slow response from township parents may be that the program was started at the end of the school year and many parents are not aware that the kits are available. He hopes word of mouth during the summer and information from the schools in the fall increase parental response.
"As the word continues to get out more and more, we hope to have more of an opportunity to distribute these kits," Slifka said.
Prevention
Many parents, Slifka noted, may be afraid to address the issue of drugs with their children or simply do not want to accept that there may be a problem. Slifka, however, said parents need to understand that the kits can be a major help in identifying a problem or starting a conversation with children about illegal drug use.
Slifka said the kits could be used as a simple deterrent. Placing the kit on a table and letting the child know the potential for testing is there, he said, may prevent any experimentation.
Slifka said the kits will be available at no charge into the foreseeable future. He said the anonymous donor who bought the kits has pledged to buy additional kits as needed.
jgoodwin@vindy.com