A friend has an 18year old who is not motivated to work at all. She took him for a job, he wouldn't go inside, he wouldn't fill out an application, etc.

He acts depressed, he stays home. He doesn't know if he will go to college.

He is behaving just like any 18 year old who doesn't know what he wants to do.

HOWEVER, the mother swears "my son would not take drugs".

That comment blew me away because as you all know, NO ONE CAN SAY THAT ABOUT ANOTHER PERSON. They would never know until it's apparent.

So I told her friend to have this woman go to the drug store and buy a home testing drug kit. At least that would be one thing she could rest her mind.


I was told the following:

"The kid just had a physical with all blood work, (because of insurance changes), they had him go for a physical. Well, this is what I was told anyway. I have no idea.

They said "he's healthy, all blood work came back fine".

So here's my question.

I know that when you go for blood tests, they test for glucose, liver enzmes, cholesterol, thyroid, all things that A REGULAR BLOOD TEST will test for.

If the kid had been on drugs, would that have shown up in a blood test?

See, I'm clueless about these things.

I know that pot and other stuff can get out of your system in a day or so.

So I would just like to know that if one goes in for a regular blood work, if the kid HAD been on any drugs, coke, pot, WHATEVER, would that have been flagged.

Or do doctors have to specifically request a particular test (like urine, blood, etc.)

And if they took his urine, would they have regularly screened it. Or do they just test the urine for sugar?

Thanks to anyone who knows this.

My friend swears that this 18 year old does not do drugs.

That might be true, but I just was curious about this blood test.

Thanks much
Mel

Maybe he has depression..

I don't know about the drug tests.

but if he is acting like a normal teen or not would give some clues
does he have friends that seem nice?
does he take care of his personal hygiene
does he have chores or do his own laundry
mean, angry, or laid back and not caring about anything...
no normal interaction with others..

can she see any changes in his eyes & does he act like a totally different kid at times?

some kids are late bloomers
Is he a very shy kid???

He has friends, but because he has no girl to take to the prom, and all his friends are bringing girls, they told him "no, you can't come to the prom and hang out with us, we have girls".

THESE ARE FRIENDS???

Anyway, I found out he's been in special ed, he's been diagnosed with ADD, he will not take his ADD meds, and he refuses to even consider a job.

The mother wants to put him on SSI.

That's all the info I have.

My question though was "can a regular blood test screen for any type of drug use?" or do you need a specific drug test to indicate "yeah the kid is on drugs".

Thanks,
Melody

I think if he is 18, that is considered no longer a minor, and parents cannot force him into any medical intervention, legally, or receive results because of HIPPA (unless he gives permission).

IMO the "work ethic" begins before 18. Attitude towards responsibility and saving money, earned, starts much earlier.
My son was on a work program from high school before he was 16, and worked in the local library, as his first job. Also on our vacations a substantial amount of work needs to be done, and he learned quite a lot from those chores!

Also a factor-- video games. Many many young people today are really hooked on these. That can interfere with life in general when it gets extreme!

Drugs cost money... where would he get that, if he is not working?

for the regular blood tests - I think it would have to be requested by the doc - They don't test for that normally , or without permission as it probably is an invasion of privacy..or something..

Sounds like his attitude is more related to his ADD, or depression than illegal drugs.
There could be some casual use or experimenting with substances ...

His mother gives him money. The father is disabled, gets disability and will not buy any food for his wife or the 18 year old. The father will only buy food for himself and the other 21 year old (who works).

So to day this family has problems is putting it mildly.

The reason I asked about the drugs, is that many 18 year olds experiment and they DO THEIR THING. The odd statement from the mother was that "My son would never do that". Now you know that moms can't say that. Moms don't know EVERYTHING that their kids do.

And as far as video gaming. It's the most dangerous thing that's going on now. When they first start playing games, it affects the brain, it changes brain chemistry. But this country and other countries also are so TECHNO SAVVY, that all kids do this. And parents don't see the harm because as one mother told me "he's in his room on the computer, what harm can he do, at least he's not out drugging".

Gaming addiction is not yet on the DSM 4 but they are trying to put it on their when it is revised in 2012.

I think MMO's are going to be the fastest growing addictive behavior (even more than drugs).

Every single young boy that I know is either on his playstation or on the computer. And I know MANY parents, who when they try and unplug the computer or get the kid away from it, well the kids actually became violent and hit the parents.

I know MANY parents who throw up their hands and say "what can I do, my son is running the house".

Very sad

And very scary.

Because if all our young men (and it's mostly guys who do this role playing stuff and virtual reality playing, like Second Life), Some gals do it also but it's mostly guys. Well if all these kids are becoming addicted at such an early age, what will happen when it's time to grow up, go out and go to work, or go to college.

Do you know that I know parents who paid for college and can't get their 19 year old sons out of bed in the morning because he was on the computer all night long.

I can't tell you how many I know because it's TOO many.

Video games are addictive. And I recently read that children at the age of 2 should NOT BE WATCHING TV AT ALL.

It seems that they found out that kids who watch tv so young, learn no social skills and wind up being bullied in the playground when they go to school.

All this Second Life and Worlds of Warcraft, and even the games on Facebook, well, they are all MMO's and well, they are going to be the ruination of our young people.

Sorry to rant and rave.

It hits home.

Melody

With Pain Management, all patients (where I go for medical treatment) are required to consent to random drug testing. No consent, no treatment from the doc or his staff. Toxicology tests are run, and those do differ from "regular" blood testing.

The doc is looking for the presence of medications a patient is RX'd and also the absence of other drugs. If someone doesn't test "clean" or as s/he should, the doc will be having a serious talk with the patient. If RX'd meds are absent, it could be a possible sign of diversion.

If it's a comprehensive blood test, the results might possibly show elevation in certain things, which may catch a doctor's attention. The numbers would have to be higher than what the testing lab "sees" as the "norm."

Thanks very much for all the info.

Much appreciated.
Melody