Teenager In Danger

[IZCzech]

I have a 17 year old stepdaughter.  She is on multiple medications - 300mg Budeprion, 100mg Zoloft and 36mg Concerta.  Just found out she is smoking pot and drinking alcohol (and her mother does not have a problem with the pot/alcohol part of it - but that is another problem...).  What are the side effects to the pot/alcohol with all of the medication that she is taking on a daily basis?

[Megadeth33]

it sounds like you need to get all of this in writing to be able to make a case out of this. if you contact the authorities with proof that the doctor has taken your 12 year old off of meds and you have proof that the biological mother is putting him back on them then that's a lawsuit agains her. also if the children are in the custody of your husband, their father, and he tells the mother to stop and she percists then throught the right actions you can make it to where she can only see the children through regulated visits. it's terrible that a 12 year old is on so many medications. one of my siblings is on ridalin and i hate when he's on it because i don't get to spend  time with the REAL him because when he's on his meds he's like a zombie. and i'm sure you love those children a great deal because they aren't even your own and you are so concerned about them. way to go! and good luck! :D

[socgirl]

Sounds like the mother of these children is not real stable.  Perhaps they don't have bruises, etc, however if she continued giving the son meds against the doctor's advice (my understanding he took the son off meds) then that is paramount to medical neglect...she's doing something that could potentially harm him.  How do the kids feel about the mom?  The son is 12, he is of legal age to decide who he wants to live with, etc.  If their father doesn't have primary custody, perhaps he should.  Go to the courts and request a court appointed child advocate to assist with matters like that.  Also, talk to the psychiatrist directly about these issues, though i know you just found out about the drug use.  Hope everything works out and I know CPS may say they can't get involved and i know they have their hands full, but it sounds like their are some real protection concerns if the mother has munchausen by proxy (though that itself is really difficult to diagnose and prove).  Good luck.

[IZCzech]

Her father is against the medications and we just found about the drugs/alcohol.  We also recently found out from the children's counselor that the mother is suspected of having Munchausen by Proxy syndrome.  Problem we have been having is getting someone to help us help the kids.  CPS won't intervene unless the children have bruises - My stepson who is 12 is on much more medication than the 17 year old daughter and he is just - not like any 12 year old I have ever seen.  It's sad.   Even when the psychiatrist took the son off meds - the mother kept refilling the refills and giving to the son.  Who do we go to for help?

[socgirl]

Why is she on so much medication?  Both zoloft and budeprion are anti-depressants, though sometimes they are used for other things.  You have reason to be concerned as alcohol use does have an effect on the meds she's taking.  I'm not sure about pot.  You should talk to her parents about this and ask them to talk to her doctor that is prescribing the medication.  He/she should be aware that your stepdaughter is using other drugs and he/she will decide what the most appropriate action would be.  As a clinical social worker, I have worked with some psychiatrist who will not prescribe medication if their patient is actively using other drugs.  Good luck