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ADHD, meds, drinking, lying

Mky0005's picture

my 17 almost 18-year-old stepdaughter has massive ADHD and takes stimulant medication and other medication to manage it. Recently, I found liquor in a water bottle in her room. She lied about it and said it was from a party but somebody else just put it in her backpack and it wasn't hers, even though it was the same brand of water bottles we have in our house and it smelled like the liquor my husband has. She lied about going to her counselor, which she insisted that she needed because she said she has anxiety. We are also paying for outside private counseling in addition to school counseling In addition to psychiatrist appointments and medication and Church youth group. She's also lied about being sick to get out of the church group.  Recently we were at my mothers house for Xmas and two of her stimulant medication pills fell out on the couch from her purse. These are controlled substances and cannot be taken out of the house. They are highly regulated.I asked her why the hell do you have those in your purse? I portion them out for you every morning so the only way it could've gotten in your purse was that you put the medication in your purse instead of putting it in your mouth and taking it. She just looked at me dumbly and said I don't know.  We've talked about how that's illegal to carry that around without the prescription bottle and how serious it is. I'm so pissed off. She's also lied and said she takes the meds when she drives.  Then she drove today and hadn't taken her med! She is soooooo impaired with adhd it's not even funny. Also i found another bottle of meds she takes that i filled not even 2 weeks ago and it's EMPTY w no lid.  She must have dumped them into a purse or something. And yes, I hold all of her medication's in my bathroom, so obviously she's sneaking in here and taking medication from my bathroom. I told my husband, but he said he doesn't care because they are not stimulants. But I'm like I filled it 12 days ago where the hell is all of the medicine ?! What did she do with it ?!??My husband never punishes her. He has undiagnosed ADHD as well, but he 100% has it. He is a crappy parent to be honest.  he never wants to punish her because it's just too much effort. I went ahead and went up to her room tonight and told her I'm taking away driving for three days so she can take the bus to school and think about all of her actions because all of the lying is getting old. And it's putting our family in jeopardy  Because she's doing things that are illegal. Drinking, carrying around medication that she is not allowed to just have her purse..  Also, sometimes when I discipline her, my husband goes behind me and tells sd  "you don't have to listen to stepmom, you don't have to do that punishment bc it's bullshit "so I'm really hoping that's not gonna happen. I know that is very disrespectful of him. Which leads me to my next point. I also have two small children on my own with my dh ages 2 months and almost 3 years.  I'm wondering if I need to separate from my husband because he cannot make good parenting or relationship choices. But the flip side  of that would be he would have my two young children for his parenting time without me, and I worry about them being with him without me there. He has a bad temper, basically just puts my three-year-old in her room because he doesn't wanna deal with her, yells at all of us, started throwing things recently. I know this is not a good situation. I stepdaughter is almost 18 so I feel like ultimately, I've done what I can. Although I know she will fail to thrive. That will have to be his problem. But I worry about my two young biological children. I worry about them going over to his house even if it's for a weekend. He is a very angry person and it has gotten way worse since we had kids together. He is very immature and impatient and wants things his way, I honestly think he's a narcissist. What can i do to protect me and my kids? I dont want a divorce , no one does. Also my parents won't let me stay there because my mom just says " try to work it out and just not make him mad and not bring up stuff to upset him "   I don't have anywhere to go w my two small kids (and two big dogs who he also abuses). Also, I stopped working when I had my two kids because of the cost of daycare and I used to be a teacher so it would eat up my whole paycheck for daycare for two little kids. Thanks for reading. 
 

Comments

Harry's picture

What not a normal person. Why do  you expect normal behaver from her.  They all do it.  You did  get to all her problem.  I bet there's many more. They [ the medical profession] stop looking.  They got there fix. They get to see her once a month.   "  You pass go and they collect there fees "

'What I am saying this is no fast fix.  What nobody tell you is.  These drugs interferes with there sexual life. They don't get those feelings and may not function sexually.  Get that O. So they stop taking there meds. Because sex is better then being normal. That when the real problem begin 

Crspyew's picture

selling her medication to fund other activities?

Lillywy00's picture

She probably selling her pills. 
 

Make her stand in front of you swallow the medication with  water then lift her tongue and hold her cheeks open afterwards. 

notarelative's picture

Recently filled empty bottle and no pills -- my first thought was selling too. DH will care if she's arrested for being a dealer. She's almost 18. They would most likely charge her as an adult.

Lillywy00's picture

They would most likely charge her as an adult.
 

I warn these limit testing kids multiple times so it's crystal clear that they better save some bail money with their little illicit activities bc I'm not bailing out, not putting money on the books, not hiring attorneys....my money is for investing only

If I break down and help - they will be working for me for a long time to pay off the debt.

I refuse to have adult kids over here be causing me liabilities. 
 

*just me - I'm a bit more stern with kids especially ones that be lying and on the edge of self destruction (where I gotta expend resources to help undo their eff ups)

**They might not be scared of you. Definitely not scared of Disneyland parents.....but most of them scared of adult jail. 

grannyd's picture

Bingo, Lilly! Of course she's selling the pills; there's a huge, illegal market for Ritalin and Adderall!

mky0005, your SD could be self-medicating with alcohol and making decent money in the drug trade. You have every reason to be concerned.

Mky0005's picture

Thank you all for the quick replies. I agree this is trouble. The bigger trouble is that my DH does not really see the problem, although he did tell her it's illegal for her to have those pills on her without the labeled bottle. But he does not see the need to punish or do anything to change the behavior. I did take the car away for three days, because technically it belongs to me. DH does not know. He will have a fit if he finds out. It's sad because anytime SD does something bad my biggest fear is dealing with DH, not SD. I guess I'm asking for any advice… I know it's a bad situation, but any advice on how to proceed would be appreciated. Thank you guys.

BethAnne's picture

Ideally I would have you and your husband attend one of sd's medical or therapy appointments all together and outline your concerns in front of a professional. Let your husband try and defend his daughters behavior to a stranger and have them tell him (and sd) why it is concerning. It also gives the professional a fuller picture of what is happening outside of appointments with sd, so they can better help her. 
 

I would also really see if you can encourage your husband to get assessed for adhd. Anger can be a byproduct of adhd and if he gets some professional help it might help him to start to realize there are ways to help temper his anger somewhat. 
 

Then I would start selling your kids old baby stuff and other clutter around the house. Tell your husband you are decluttering. Save up that money so that you have a lump sum in case you need to make a quick exit. 

Mky0005's picture

thank you. This is all really good advice. Only her appointments are when he is working so he cannot go and I asked him to go to marriage counseling. I've even had the pastor come over to our house and tell him we need to go to marriage counseling. But to no avail. I like the idea about selling stuff and pocketing money for the future. I guess I could reach out to the church pastor again and see if he could prod my husband along to go to counseling. he also does not think he has ADHD, even though he 1000% does.  his life can be so much better if he would get treated for it, (our lives, too )but if he refuses to I guess I have to decide how much more I can take of this…

Harry's picture

That this is normal for these kids. DH is hopping that it will all get turn around one day soon.  We all feel that way in the beginning.  It's not going to be fast a painless. 

Thumper's picture

You said  that you do NOT want a divorce.

Then I will suggest a few sessions with a Marriage and Family therapist. Tell them everything you told us. EVERYTHING,  Ask them to help you navigate all of this. 

In the mean time her access to the family car should be a big fat zero. I would pull her drivers license too. Could save her or someones life.

 

Mky0005's picture

I even had the pastor come over, and he suggested marriage counseling, but my husband has not yet agreed to go. It's very upsetting.

Rags's picture

Rx'd behavioral illness meds should come with a CO requiring that they are taken.  Just not taking them should not be an option. With LEO capability to cite or even detain for not taking them.  

Take the choice element away.

Similar to vaccines.  People who don't take them and get that illness should have to vacate hospital beds for those who do and require that bed.  Taking that chance is up to the indivicual, but roll the dice, get the illness and the hospital you are in fills up. You lose your bed when a vaccinated person needs it.

I know, a bit extreme, but.... I am someone whose life depends on meds and taking them every day. If I don't take them and end up in the hospital because of it and that bed is needed, I should be SOL.  My bed should go to someone who is in need through no fault of their own.

Idiot choices of individuals should not be tolerated to adversely impact others.

Minors get some benefit of the doubt.  In an age appropriate manner.

IMHO of course.

Mky0005's picture

Yes and she is almost 18 so at some point she's gonna say she's an adult and it's her body her choice. I'm just scared of her whole life is going to tank and we're gonna pay the price for it. I can see the writing on the wall.

Mky0005's picture

Thanks everyone.  At this point i'm realizing my husband is going against me just for the sake of fighting. He does this with everything. Even to the detriment of his own child, my stepdaughter. I think the bigger problem is him.  How do you know when it's time to leave ? Sad

Rags's picture

If you are asking yourself  and anyone else if it is time for you to leave... it  is long past that time.

Get on with your new life adventure.