New kits which can be used at home by parents have been criticised by specialists working with young people engaged in drug abuse.
The kits allow a sample of urine to be tested for the presence of cocaine, amphetamines, met amphetamines (ecstasy), cannabis, opiates such as heroin and benzodiazepines such as valium.
The home drug tests, though discussed in the media since before the summer, have become available only in the last month. Manufactured by Hunter Diagnostics, they are being distributed by Intrapharma.
Mr David O'Moore, product manager with Intrapharma, said about 600 had been sold in the first month of availability and that GPs had expressed an interest in the kits.
"They are mainly being bought by parents concerned that their kids might be messing about with drugs," he said.
Sister Veronica Mangan, director of the Aislinn Treatment Centre in Co Kilkenny - which provides drug rehabilitation programmes for adolescents - said parents should be "very, very careful" about using the kits.
"I certainly think using them could damage trust between parents and their children. What if they find they are using drugs? Where do they go then if the trust is broken?" she asked.
She said it was far more important that parents maintained an honest relationship with their children and made sure to know "where their children are and who they are mixing with".
Mr Tony Geoghegan, director of the Merchants Quay Drug Treatment Centre in Dublin, said in dealing with a son or daughter who may be involved in drugs, "trust is the real key".
"I can see how a parent would like to feel they could know for sure but, genuinely, if someone is taking drugs it is going to manifest itself in other ways.
"If a parent is concerned they should communicate that to their kids, discuss it with them and make some kind of deal where they agree their child will come to them for help if they need it. Standing at the door waiting for them with a kit is only going to exacerbate the lack of trust if it's there," Mr Geoghegan said.
Mr O'Moore said, however, the kits were being used mainly as a deterrent to young people who might take drugs.
The kits retail at a recommended price of €22.95.
