Collier group offers drug kits for children

NAPLES, Fla. — Free drug testing kits are coming to Collier County with the hopes of preventing substance abuse and overdoses among children.

Naples mother Jennifer Kozlowsky shivers at the thought of her children overdosing.

“I think a preventative nature for keeping my home drug free,” Kozlowsky said. “I’d love to have the resources.”

Drug Free Collier, an organization dedicated to preventing substance abuse among children, has teamed up with a national non-profit organization Not-My-Kid to pass out free home drug testing kits to parents.

Carly Gibb, the Development Assistant of Drug Free Collier, believes these kits will be helpful in preventing more overdoses.

“Nobody comes home and says ‘I didn’t do drugs today’ or nobody you know preaches their kids did drugs today,” Carly Gibb of said. “It’s when we hear the after stories of the struggling of addiction or use of substances.”

Drug Free Collier is taking on the campaign to tie in with their program “Hidden in Plain Site,” which is a model of a teenager’s room where experts show parents the potential for children to hide dangerous drugs at home, such as cabinet drawers or jewelry boxes.

“If you find a pipe in your teenagers room, it might be good to drug test them and then take those necessary steps to seek treatment or counseling to address those issues,” Gibb said.

However, some parents, like Efrain Diaz, feel these drug kits won’t prevent children from experimenting with drugs.

“I mean if you want to drug test your kids go ahead but I really don’t think that really helps,” Efrain said. “Kids are going to do whatever they’re going to do with or without you. I think education is the key here.”

Drug Free Collier will be hosting three events where they will be handing out free home kits starting on Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

The events will be held at Lorenzo Walker Technical College, which is located at 3702 Estey Avenue in Naples. The second event will be held on Oct. 11 at Oakridge Middle School at 14975 Collier Boulevard in Naples at 5:30 p.m. The third event will be held Oct, 13 at Big Cypress Elementary School at 3250 Golden Gate Blvd in West Naples at 5:30 p.m.