Some New York area schools are using "DrugWipes" to detect drug residue left on surfaces such as student lockers from contact with student sweat, the New York Post reported Nov. 13.

Officials in the Newark, N.J., school district and elsewhere say the wipes help them determine what kinds of drugs are being used by students, the age of users, and where drug dealers might be hanging out.

Willie Freeman, security director for the Newark schools, said the tests can help the district fine-tune its prevention messages but won't be used to go after individual users. However, one school principal in New Jersey reportedly wants to use the wipes on the foreheads of students thought to be high on drugs.

The Newark program is funded with a $30,000 federal drug-testing grant. The wipes are produced by Global Detection & Reporting of New York. The company also sells the $50 testing kits to parents via the Internet; the wipes detect traces of drugs like heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.