American Notes DRUGS

Your teenage son turns jittery and develops sharp mood swings. You suspect he may be using drugs; he denies it. What to do? The question now has a chemical answer: slip into his bedroom when he is away, brandishing a spray can of Drug Alert. Wipe off his study desk, dresser top or doorknob with a clean white cloth or paper towel. Then zap the cloth or paper with spray. If a reddish- brown or turquoise stain appears, your son may be a liar.

The latest weapon in the antidrug war, Drug Alert was developed in Israel and is used by U.S. agencies for drug interdiction. It is being sold in a $49.95 kit for home use, which includes two spray cans designed to detect traces of marijuana or hashish and one for cocaine and crack. While Shertest Corp., the New York-based distributor, considers the test accurate, it suggests that any positive result be confirmed by a laboratory. The tattletale hues do not necessarily prove drug use; they only indicate that drugs had touched the tested surface. "We do not test people; we test objects," explains Sidney B. Klein, Shertest's general manager. With the kit comes a number to call for a list of nearby drug-treatment centers.