The number of companies introducing home steroid test kit in the market is increasing. It is an indication that the demand for this product is also huge. Companies believe that the use of this product will deter students and the young generation from using steroids. However, there are some people who are not in favor of using these test kits at home because of possible negative effects in the relationships between parents and their children. Not to mention the cases of false positives because of unreliable testing kits.

These home based drug tests kits can be easily purchased from pharmacies and some online stores are also offering these products. Parents who are concerned on the welfare of their children may be tempted to administer one especially if their children are involved in sports. Though their objective is good, there are possible problems that may arise from using these easy to use test kits.

Executive Director Gino Vumbaca of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) said that the use of these kits should be avoided as much as possible. It should only be used as the last recourse. Vumbaca said that there were evidences that could prove the unreliability of some home based drug test kits. Some of them returned a false positive based on laboratory testing. Instead of helping the parents, it can even create problems. “People need to be communicating with kids and looking for changes or problems that may be occurring. To physically take a sample from them and test it, it’s hard to go back from that and say ‘Oh yes, but I trust you’,” said Vumbaca.

Parenting is not an easy job but parents should have an open communication with their children and guide them to avoid any involvement in the use of drugs. Most of the cases of steroid abuse happened without the knowledge of their parents. This may be due to lack of communication between the parent and the child.

The ANCD director also said that parents should not solely rely on these technological solutions in catching their kids. “There are better ways to deal with (potential drug use) than taking a bodily fluid sample from your kid,” Vumbaca told the News.com.au. Local gyms can also take an active part in eradicating the illegal use of steroids by educating their young members about the dangers of steroids. Other reports confirm that there are some areas in the country where steroid is widely available to young users in the gym. But Vumbaca said that illicit steroid use in the country is not yet considered as epidemic.

A company selling home-based steroid test kit has another view on testing children at home. Confirm BioSciences said that using these products put parents in control. It can also help the kids to have an acceptable excuse if they are being pressured to take steroids by their peers. “Concerns about body image and athletic performance may be leading teens to use anabolic steroids, despite the serious side affects of these drugs. Because people like physical results they see when they use steroids, it can easily turn into steroid abuse,” the CEO of Confirm BioSciences, Zeynep Ilgaz told the News.

The steroid test kit being marketed by the company claims that it can detect at least eleven different types of performance enhancing substances.

In the end, it is still the parents’ decision if they will use these home based steroid testing. But parents must explain to their children why they are doing this.

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