WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – As a parent, knowing what your teenager is always up to can be hard.
The Dearborn Police Department is launching a new program that will help parents who are concerned their child could be using drugs and alcohol.
The department offers free Parental Evaluation Resource Kits (PERK) for residents.
“It’s a resource for families that are concerned about substance abuse issues or use of tobacco in their home,” Dearborn police Chief Issa Shahin said.
Shahin said substance abuse is an issue among teens in Dearborn, like other communities.
“It’s not just something in Dearborn. It’s in every corner of this country,” Shahin said.
Shahin, who is a parent, said he would have no issues testing his own children.
“If I thought my child was involved in narcotic use, or I had some concerns or questions, I wouldn’t hesitate to get a test kit because I want to know the answers. I want to be informed to make the right decisions,” Shahin said.
Children’s Hospital of Michigan psychologist Eric Herman said parents shouldn’t shy away from talking to their kids about drugs.
“It is a bad problem. You get too far into it at a young age, it is indicative of a lot of problems like not finishing school. It’s an accelerant of mental health problems,” Herman said.
That’s why Dearborn police are including resources for families to get help with the kits.
Shahin said that the Livonia Police Department offers similar kits with great success.
“We started with 100 test kits, and I want to see how successful it is. Well, if this is something that there’s an overwhelming need for, then I’ll find the funding to continue it,” Shahin said.
The kits are available in the lobby of the Dearborn Police Department 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, call 313-943-2241.