My teenager stole and sold my ADHD meds. I have no idea what to do.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 kids, one's 15 and the younger one's only 6. I woke up this morning and saw my whole month of adhd meds were gone. I always store them in the same place in a locked box and there's no way I misplaced them. I asked my wife and she had no clue either. Then I realised my daughter was acting very defensive when I asked (without accusing her of stealing) if she had any idea where the pills were.

My wife went through her bags and found the empty pill box and a stack of loose fivers in her wallet.

I am very disappointed and also don't know what to do. She has never done anything like this before. I have to wait at least a week to get a refill and I'm really struggling with work. To be honest, I don't even have the energy to discipline her or be mad at her at the moment. I'm so tired.

[Anonymous]

I would be worried that she’s using it to buy drugs or vapes or something. Stealing usually means a bigger problem. Drink some caffeine and suck it up, figure out what’s going on with your dd

[Anonymous]

This is extremely serious, OP.

You MUST deal with it. You have to explain that:
1. Stealing is a crime. She cannot do that ever again.
2. Reselling drugs is a crime. She cannot do that ever again.
3. ADHD stimulants are a controlled substance and make 1 and 2 even worse.
4. She made her parent extremely miserable for a week. Would she be happy if her parent was incapable of working and was fired, leading to her having even less money to play with than she thinks she does? Would she be happy if you were so distracted you got into a car accident and died?

Really make her feel bad about this. Lay it on thick.

And then consequences: grounded for a month. No fun at all. Get a new lock for your meds with new code.

And when the consequences have really begun to sink in... this is when you play nice and ask what's going on in her life to make her act that way. Hopefully nothing too dire.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a pretty serious situation to be her “first time”. You guys need to do a full investigation of her room, belongings, phone, etc. A kid just doesn’t steal and sell ADHD meds with no prior history of issues.

[Anonymous]

You need a better plan for your meds. If she sells again and someone ODs, their parents will sue you for wrongful death.

[Anonymous]

In addition to everything set above. Please explain to her and show evidence at ADHD. Medication’s are controlled substances, and that you are required by law to show your ID to purchase them. Something happens to someone who consumes them then you are on the hook.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry that you're going through this. You have a double whammy. The disappointment of your daughter stealing and the physical impact on you not having your medication.
You and your wife have to be aligned and talk to your daughter about stealing, stealing somebody's pills, The consequences of being caught selling drugs or what happens if one of the kids she sells drugs to overdose. She would have that on her conscience as well. She's 15 so she thought of the quick easy money but I don't think she really thought through all of the consequences. She needs to know. She needs to be punished. And unfortunately, you need to find another place to hide your medication. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a pretty serious situation to be her “first time”. You guys need to do a full investigation of her room, belongings, phone, etc. A kid just doesn’t steal and sell ADHD meds with no prior history of issues.

+1 Very few kids go from zero to 100 like this. OP's pills were missing for a day and she already sold them all - sounds like she has clientele lined up!

[Anonymous]

How did she know how to get into a locked container?

[Anonymous]

How did she get to them op?

[Anonymous]

Are your kids full siblings?

[Anonymous]

Sounds trollish. No real drug dealer would be o obvious. Gotta skim and sell for more.

[Anonymous]

The internet says they can sell for $35/40.

[Anonymous]

Dang. Your daughter is a drug dealer to minors and you are concerned that you have to wait a whole week to get YOUR fix. Do you understand how stupid you sound? Odds are, she sells at school. Your family is all jacked up.

[Anonymous]

Your wife and you need to lay down extreme consequences for this. And swiftly. If you don’t feel able to have the discussion now, your wife needs to handle this first and quickly. Aside from the theft and distribution of a controlled substance, you can address the betrayal in a few days when you’re in a better mindset. Your daughter is going to have an uphill battle to prove her trustworthiness. This was not just breaking curfew or sassing her parents.

I empathize with you about the lack of medication and needing to work. I have ADHD and dealing with the medication shortages over the last year have been HARD.