A substance-testing program in juvenile justice agencies has both positive and problematic ramifications. The program allows agencies to know with greater certainty the drug-using activities of youth they serve. It allows monitoring of these activities and can be used with graduated sanctions to coerce abstinence. It helps juvenile justice practitioners identify youth who need substance abuse treatment and provide them with more appropriate referrals. Such a program also helps agencies document the need for treatment in communities where it is not yet available.

Substance testing also has the potential to increase demands on the juvenile justice system. When monitoring youth on probation or in aftercare for substance abuse, it is likely that positive test results will occur. Depending on policies for use of results, this may lead to identifying more youth for technical violations and thus greater caseloads for juvenile courts and agencies.

Cost is another area in which juvenile justice components will be affected. Substance testing involves significant expense for staff, supplies, tests, training, and other costs. On the other hand, there is the potential for a substance-testing program to save money in the long run. If substance abuse is identified as a problem and youth are able to enter recovery and maintain abstinence through treatment, they are less likely to cycle through the system multiple times. Identifying youth who need treatment and obtaining it for them may save money in misused correctional programs. An agency that is correctly identifying substance-abusing youth, properly running a substance-testing program, and continually evaluating the program will be credible in the eyes of youth, families, the community, courts, and peer agencies.