State Lawmaker Proposes Drug Testing During Adolescent Physical Exams

Written by Heather Doyle

A New York state senator has introduced a bill that would include drug testing for adolescents as young as age 12 as part of their routine physical exams.

Citing a rising epidemic of drug use among middle and high school students, state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk said she developed the bill as a means for addressing and detecting substance abuse.

“Drug use among vulnerable young people is reaching epidemic proportions,” Tkaczyk, D-Duanesburg, said in a statement. “I worked closely with health care providers and educators to develop this legislation and ensure that parents are aware of potential problems and can secure the treatment their children need.”

The bill provides for multiple measures of addressing the issue and includes requiring health insurance to cover the cost without copayment, deductible, or co-insurance and keeping results confidential and out of the hands of insurance companies. The proposal also stipulates that a positive test with no other indications of abuse or neglect would not meet the requirements for reporting child abuse.

What do you think of the bill? Would drug tests help in addressing adolescent drug abuse? Tell us in the comments.