First, what is Niacin? Niacin, or B3, is an organic compound that is considered to be one of the 40-80 “essential” human nutrients known today. It is found in many common foods (like chicken and vegetables) and is used by the body to support the skin and convert foods into energy. Like most vitamins we are encouraged to consume it as much as necessary, which is usually about 12-16mg of it per day.

So if it’s a vitamin it can’t be all bad, right? Wrong. Niacin consumption can be very dangerous, in large doses it raises the blood sugar, damages the liver, and flushes the skin. While a drug detox using a vitamin might sound like a good idea the amount of Niacin most people recommend is not. Most people claim to use this trick you need to take between 1000-3000 mg of Niacin in just a few hours. That doesn’t sound like much until you consider that is nearly 15x the amount you should be consuming in a day. One method even suggests planning on hanging out by an AC vent during this process, why? Simple, when you consume extreme amounts of Niacin the skin will flush, your body heat will rise, and you’ll be living in a virtual sauna for several hours. But is it all worth it? Well, no actually it isn’t. In most people this trick does nothing, Niacin only speeds up the body and provides energy it has almost no effect on the results of drug tests taken by most people.

The main concept of school drug testing is to act as a deterrent—another valid reason for teens to resist peer pressure and not use drugs. It can also give teachers and parents some intel on a student who is using drugs and intervene appropriately.

Most schools who implement random drug testing use urine or saliva drug tests. These types of tests are the least intrusive and easy to use. Drug use can be identified in both tests for 3-5 days, depending on the type of drug.

Drug tests do not recognize alcohol use, which will only show up in a breath or blood test. This is a bit discouraging, since alcohol is by far the most-used drug among teens. But experts say most substance abusers use more than one drug, so it is entirely possible that a teen who tests positive for a narcotic may very well be drinking as well.

Some parents (or students) may question the constitutionality of drug testing in schools, but in many cases it is perfectly legal. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), schools can administer random drug tests to any students participating in competitive extracurricular activities. Before, only athletes could be tested. Now, even glee club members could be subjected to tests, providing they are competing. Despite recent court rulings, students and their lawyers continue to argue privacy issues, and the debate will no doubt linger on.

The ability to screen for several drugs at once, using a Multiple Substance Test, provides parents with a more complete look into their child’s behavior while greatly improving the chances that any drug abuse will be detected. Home drug test kits can be utilized in many forms, including the urinalysis drug test, the hair follicle drug test, and the saliva drug test. Each of these options provides different benefits, such as the 3 month testing scope of the hair follicle test and the ease of use provided by the saliva test. For concerned parents who want to do everything they can to keep their children drug free, home drug testing is the most powerful tool you have.

With the spirit  of prevention in mind, a pilot program in Suffolk County, New York has begun offering parents free drug tests for use at home. The standard urinalysis drug test is capable of detecting marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, Vicadin, and Xanax and are relatively simple to administer. Parents have been very receptive to the idea of drug testing simply because they want to put an end to the uncertainty. The Suffolk County drug testing program has been immensely successful and could end up providing a model for similar proposals around the country.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/parents-pick-free-drug-kits-kids/story?id=9164002