How to Help a 14-Year-Old Drug Addict

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: TENNESSEE. My 14 year old niece is on Meth. Her parents do nothing about it. I've took her to another state before, parents caved in and came got her after only 24 hours. She use to be 130 pounds is no only 80. She's going to die. Will child protective services do anything about a child on drugs? Will they take her away? Make her go to rehab? Her 18 year old boyfriend is the one who gives it to her. Will they do anything to him?

First off, you should avoid breaking the law. Kidnapping the child can get you in real trouble.

Keep filing complaints with CPS until this is resolved. An addicted kid is going to attract their attention.
Yes, if he is found to be "giving" drugs, that is the same legally as being a drug dealer (the law doesn't differentiate whether you charge or not).

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Quoting Savannahmoody

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My question involves juvenile law in the State of: TENNESSEE. My 14 year old niece is on Meth. Her parents do nothing about it. I've took her to another state before, parents caved in and came got her after only 24 hours. She use to be 130 pounds is no only 80. She's going to die. Will child protective services do anything about a child on drugs? Will they take her away? Make her go to rehab? Her 18 year old boyfriend is the one who gives it to her. Will they do anything to him?

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You can't kidnap your niece. That's what you did when you took her out of state. Don't do it again.

Call CPS and report it. 18 year old boyfriend too huh? Call the cops and report THAT guy for starters. Then call CPS.

I did not kidnap her. I contacted her parents, I informed them she is on drugs, serverely. And told them she should come with me to another state (where I live) to get clean off of drugs for atleast a couple months. They gave me written permission to take her. She kept calling them and threw a fit, they caved in an came got her within 24 hours.

I didn't kidnap her. Her parents gave me written permission to go get her from that crack house and take her with me for however long it took her to come clean off drugs. But she kept calling them throwing a fit to come back. So they caved in and came and got her after 24 hours. His grandmother works at the jail (not an officer) but it keeps him out of jail time. He's been arrested 3 or 4 times before. But they just give him a slap on the wrist.

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Quoting Savannahmoody

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I did not kidnap her. I contacted her parents, I informed them she is on drugs, serverely. And told them she should come with me to another state (where I live) to get clean off of drugs for atleast a couple months. They gave me written permission to take her. She kept calling them and threw a fit, they caved in an came got her within 24 hours.

I didn't kidnap her. Her parents gave me written permission to go get her from that crack house and take her with me for however long it took her to come clean off drugs. But she kept calling them throwing a fit to come back. So they caved in and came and got her after 24 hours. His grandmother works at the jail (not an officer) but it keeps him out of jail time. He's been arrested 3 or 4 times before. But they just give him a slap on the wrist.

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That means nothing in court. They could have easily said they didn't write that. Just letting you know to be more careful legally.

His grandma working at the jail has nothing to do with why he hasn't done time. It depends on what he was charged with on why he wouldn't get much or any jail time. Lots of people get out of doing jail time because they make a plea deal or the judge gives someone a second or third chance to change.

Bottomline: All you can do is call CPS about her drug addiction and issues. And call the police about that 18 year old especially if you can get any evidence he has had a sexual relationship with her because pretty sure that's statutory rape if he has.

I also have it in text messages from her phone, and had it notarized on paper. He's had meth on him in school, pulled over with it a couple times, under the influence at school. I can get proof of it. I have messages from my niece telling me about it. We use to be very close. I've called CPS, their going there sometime today. I just need to get ahold of one of the ONLY two officers of their town. Even though we've talked to the sheriff a month ago and nothing was done. Smh. Another question, if they do end up taking her away from her parents, is there anyway they will let me have her? I live in another state.

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Quoting Savannahmoody

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I also have it in text messages from her phone, and had it notarized on paper. He's had meth on him in school, pulled over with it a couple times, under the influence at school. I can get proof of it. I have messages from my niece telling me about it. We use to be very close. I've called CPS, their going there sometime today. I just need to get ahold of one of the ONLY two officers of their town. Even though we've talked to the sheriff a month ago and nothing was done. Smh. Another question, if they do end up taking her away from her parents, is there anyway they will let me have her? I live in another state.

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Okay whatever. Take the chance of getting arrested because again, that doesn't matter.

Keep reporting it any time you have evidence of him selling, using drugs, giving them to her, or if he's had sexual contact with her.

You can ask but depends on CPS and probably not right away if they investigate. They might try to get her sobered up first. I don't know. But just know generally the goal is always reunification with the parents. They'll probably have the parents take parenting classes or something and her rehab and such.

Just because he didn't get arrested doesn't mean nothing was done. They could be investigating it. They don't have to tell you. Maybe they were already onto him and they're trying to figure out who he gets his drugs from and get them too. Just because you don't see an arrest doesn't mean nothing is going on.

For my niece I would do anything to save her life. But when I took her with me was 7 months ago. She's just got worse since then.

I will keep reporting until something is done. It just seems like the justice system doesn't care. It's a very small town. Everyone knows everyone there. Or they are related.

How many chances will CPS give the parents to be actual parents? CPS has been involved once when she was 12 for her father giving her a black eye. But they dropped it. Because everyone knows everyone there.

He was arrested for everything but then released and once he got probation. Others charges dropped for supposedly "insufficient evidence".

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Quoting Savannahmoody

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For my niece I would do anything to save her life. But when I took her with me was 7 months ago. She's just got worse since then.

I will keep reporting until something is done. It just seems like the justice system doesn't care. It's a very small town. Everyone knows everyone there. Or they are related.

How many chances will CPS give the parents to be actual parents? CPS has been involved once when she was 12 for her father giving her a black eye. But they dropped it. Because everyone knows everyone there.

He was arrested for everything but then released and once he got probation. Others charges dropped for supposedly "insufficient evidence".

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Oh they'll give parents multiple chances to be parents. There is an entirely super low threshold to parenting in this country.

They very well could have had insufficient evidence. If he had a lawyer they could easily get him off I'm sure.

Well, that's unfortunate when it's a 14 year old child's life at stake. Is there anyway I could fight for her custody?

He had actual drugs on his person, and failed a drug test each occasion. Enough drugs on him to put anyone in prison for a long time. He couldn't afford a lawyer.

If I moved down there and hired a lawyer, could I have a fighting chance for custody? I have children. And I love my niece like she's one of my own. I can't sit here and watch her parents LET her go down this road. So would there ever be a chance of me retaining custodian of her?

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Quoting Savannahmoody

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Well, that's unfortunate when it's a 14 year old child's life at stake. Is there anyway I could fight for her custody?

He had actual drugs on his person, and failed a drug test each occasion. Enough drugs on him to put anyone in prison for a long time. He couldn't afford a lawyer.

If I moved down there and hired a lawyer, could I have a fighting chance for custody? I have children. And I love my niece like she's one of my own. I can't sit here and watch her parents LET her go down this road. So would there ever be a chance of me retaining custodian of her?

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Possibly. Look up family law lawyers who do free consultations and see what advice they can give you. I don't know what chances you have. Depends on what happens with CPS, what a judge decides, etc.

Okay, thanks for the advice I really appreciate it. Thanks for everything! I will need to make a few phone calls now!

What evidence do you have showing the boyfriend is the one supplying her with drugs and that the other things have happened ? Do you have police report ? What your niece says or texts is not evidence.