The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office is offering free drug-testing kits to parents throughout the county.

The program is in response to a growing drug problem among teens.

Capt. Adam Wogsland stresses that the purpose of the kits is to help parents get help for their children.

“If they test positive, we’re not asking them to contact law enforcement,” Wogsland said. “This is something that the parents can use as a preventive tool if they suspect they’re children are using drugs.”

The brochures that accompany the drug-testing kits include phone numbers and websites where parents can obtain counseling for drug abuse and advice from health care professionals.

The free kits will be available at the Waupaca County Law Enforcement Center and at police stations in Weyauwega, Iola, Manawa, Clintonville, New London and Marion.

Normally costing more than $20, the free kits include a swab for collecting saliva from a child’s mouth and a screening device with testing strips for eight different chemical compounds.

The kits test for alcohol, barbiturates, cocaine, methamphetamine, THC (the chemical compound in marijuana), opiates, oxycotin and PCP.

The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Wogsland said the sheriff’s office is able to distribute the kits at no charge thanks to financial support from Mobil Travel Plaza, Neuville Motors, Tag’s Auto and Office Outfitters.