Parents' actions speak louder than words. If you think that becoming your teen's friend is your number one responsibility as a parent, then the idea of implementing a home drug testing program will probably be out of the question.

I don't think visiting with your child is enough when it comes to the topic of illegal drugs. It's a good start, but nothing more if that's all you do.

Consider this. I've had my driver's license for a long time. I'm an adult who understands what a speed limit is. I also presume that most adults know about the dangers of driving too fast.

Even though police officers know that responsible adults understand the dangers of driving too fast, they don't simply trust us because we are nice people. I would argue that there would be no need for radar guns, ticket books, or fines for speeding if education was enough.

For similar reasons, talking to your teen about the dangers of substance abuse isn't enough either. That is why I strongly encourage parents to establish clear expectations, open channels of communication, and use home drug tests as part of a follow-up strategy.

Parents should keep talking to their teens about drug use, just like they always have. Additionally, they should tie rewards and consequences to the outcomes of randomly administered home drug tests.

Parents should explain to their kids that life is about choices. When teens make good choices, they get rewards; when they make poor choices, there are consequences. That's how a properly administered home drug testing program works.

Drug-free teens should look forward to random test dates as if they were bringing home straight-A report cards to their mom and dad! Parents should celebrate the good choices their teens are making too. When the purpose of using home drug test kits is explained this way, teens should feel no more uncomfortable about being asked to take random drug tests at home than most of us feel when we are asked to take them at work.

If results come back indicating no signs of drug use, your child should be able to pick out a modest reward of his or her choice, such as a music CD, a DVD, or an Xbox game. If your child has made poor decisions, then existing privileges should be revoked, as discussed in advance of a home drug test, and they should be given a timetable for earning them back.

Besides peace of mind, what other benefits does a home drug testing program offer to members of your family?

1. When your kids tell their pushy peers that you use home drug tests, it gives them a socially acceptable excuse. The intense pressure goes away. Teens I've spoken with seem to appreciate having the ability to remove themselves gracefully from such situations.

2. School officials and police departments can handle your child's drug problems by default. Prevention costs less if you handle it at home.

3. In families where teens have already broken the bond of trust and used drugs, teens struggle to regain their parents' trust and parents hesitate to give it. Now there is a way for teens to prove to their parents that they are no longer using drugs and repair their relationships sooner rather than later.