Q: I need to know what I should do about taking a drug test for department of social services

A: First, you shouldnt be using any illegal and non prescribed controlled substance while having the care custody or control of your children as this endangers them and is grounds to restrict your contact. The way to establish you are not engaging in such activity is to submit to a drug test showing you have no such substances in your system. This is usually via a 6 or 8 panel hair follicle test. Urine test are too easily manipulated and are less acceptable by our courts.

Can DSS make you submit to a test at this point? probably not, but if you refuse, the could use this as grounds to file a petition and to remove your children from you and place them in foster care, or recommend to the other parent that they not allow you to have contact with the children. Your refusal could be admitted in Court should the other parent initiate any kind of custody proceeding.

So, if you are not using, take the test, its clean, there are no issues. If you will not pass the test, or if you have been using, seek treatment immediately.

A: You should have refused to talk to them in the first place. DSS is worse than roaches once they are in your business they are hard to get rid of.

A: I'd just like to stick to answering your question:

(a) Yes, you have the right to refuse the drug test on any grounds.

(b) If you do, I'd make sure to have a private screen at your soonest opportunity following the DSS request.

(c) Not all Judges prefer hair follicle. Hair is just as easy, or easier, to manipulate via chemical hair treatments, as urine-- even more so, if urine is extracted under controlled timing and environment.

(d) If you choose to submit to the DSS request, make sure you follow up as soon as realistically possible with a private test of your own.

(e) If you can afford to, I'd involve an attorney in this process, as an attorney can preserve confidentiality with regard to the results of all private tests.