Rural/Metro Medical Services is teaming up with the Rochester Police Department to equip parents with free home drug tests. Officials say it's an early intervention effort to prevent teen drug use.
April 20th, more commonly referred to as "four-twenty" by teens, is an underground holiday called National Weed Day or National Get High Day. The Rochester Police Department is handing out free home drug test kits to parents who either suspect their child is using drugs or may participate in "four-twenty."
Thomas Bonfiglio is the General Manager of Rural Metro Medical Services. He says his teams respond to at least three calls a day related to an overdose and many of those calls are from kids 10 to 2o years old.
"Sometimes just having the drug test kit in the home will generate the necessary discussion to keep kids from getting involved in the first place. Parents have the option to test their kids if they feel it's necessary but we hope this will be a preventative measure," says Bonfiglio.
Bonfiglio says the home drug kits screen for 12 different drugs and prescription agents.