The availability of these kits puts parents in a conundrum. Parents can stock these kits just as they do syrup of Ipecac and hope they never have to use them. Or they can choose to trust their teens to make consistently healthy choices. Some have said testing indicates a lack of trust. The threat itself is antagonistic and can harm an open dialogue between parent and child.
Advocates assert having the kit at home is a deterrent to abuse.
And an important part of the kit is its information both on the dangers of alcohol and drug use, especially to the brains of developing teens, and on the resources available for dealing with substance abuse. Too many parents, however, don't want to face their children's issues. The test kits won't help them, and they won't replace good family communication. Tests may be an important parenting tool to identify youths in need of help, but youths must internalize the lesson of responsible behavior. Otherwise the strictest parents will end up with the wildest children when the children leave home.