If you can't trust that your kid is drug-free, should you bring in the dogs?

One of the biggest challenges facing parents with teens is keeping them away from drugs. Experts insist open communication is key. But what do you do when you've consistently had "the talk" with your kids, but still have strong suspicions they might be using drugs? The New Jersey-based company Sniff Dogs suggests bringing in trained narcotic detection dogs into your teen's room to literally sniff out the problem.

Debra Stone, one of the co-founders of the fledgling company, came up with the idea when her own son was pulled over for possession and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana."It threw me for a loop," says Stone. "We had talked about drugs. Multiple times. When I confronted him he said he wouldn't do it again. But I had to be sure." Many parents faced with a child who denies doing drugs administer in-home drug detection tests, but Stone was resistant to the idea. "I felt that it was incredibly invasive to do weekly urine tests. I felt like it was more putting it in his face."

Her extensive research into other methods of drug detection led her to drug detection dogs -- which, at the time, were only available through law enforcement. "It was fascinating that this service wasn't available to the general public." And with that, Sniff Dogs was born. For about $200 a session, Sniff Dogs will send a trainer and a dog to your house and do what's known as a 'sweep' of a room. The firm's five Labrador sniffer dogs can detect illegal drugs or the residue of them on clothes or surfaces even days later, and sniff out marijuana from up to 15 feet away. The dogs are trained to detect marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, Xanax and ecstasy.

"Canines are the next logical step for a parent who wants to discreetly, in the background, monitor their kid," says Stone. It might seem logical, but how do you explain to your kid you found drugs in their room by sending dogs to sniff under their bed? "Most parents don't tell." admits Stone, "They'll say they smelled it on their clothes while doing laundry or found it when they were vacuuming. It's not a lie. The parents did find it." Overall, the response to Sniff Dogs has been positive. "We've had inquires on how to start up the Sniff Dog business in every state."

But not everyone is convinced Sniff Dogs is the best approach to keeping a kid off drugs. "People are calling us Nazi parents," says Stone.

Click here for advice from Lisa Boesky, author of author of "When to Worry: How to Tell If Your Teen Needs Help-And What to Do About It."