~snip~ These stories make me question if some folks aren’t walking around with their head in the sand.

Oh, sure. I love to cite the Columbine example, where the kids had coils of fuse and shit in plain sight…all their parents have to do is open the fucking door and peek in. With all the households containing two working parents, or generally self-absorbed people, there’s definitely an issue of parents not paying attention. I didn’t mean to suggest that you shouldn’t ask the questions; my post was simply meant to point out that it’s unlikely that the parents would have been able to successfully interfere with a kid this far gone.

I raised a “damaged goods” teenager for about four years, from 15-19. At the end of the day, however, I realized that I was generally lucky that she respected me. Sustenance and fun can be attained by other sources; you’d be amazed by how many parents out there will take in someone else’s kid and let them do whatever the hell they want. The only reason you’re able to use those things as leverage is because she clearly respects you.

There have been claims that it makes people suicidal.

I took that stuff when I was this kid’s age. And yes, that was around the same time that I was really wanting to blow my head off with the .357 under my dad’s dresser. But I digress.

The problem with blaming the meds is, how do they know for sure that it’s the meds, and not the low self esteem that goes with that kind of acne, or something completely unrelated that made him do it?

Sadly, there’s not always much that can be done. A parent can try to force a child into therapy, but therapy generally doesn’t work unless the patient is receptive to it, and even then it’s not foolproof. If the child simply refuses, your options are discipline, which could backfire, or committment, which is nearly impossible. At this particular age, parents have extremely limited influence.

I understand your point, I have a 17 year old at home. Still as parents aren’t we responsible to at least be aware of our kids behavior. While therapy, or commitment may be difficult, I ask was it even considered or attempted? Again, not blaming only trying to understand how? Maybe they should have taken him off his acne meds if they thought it was a problem as now it is a defense. Did he behave as an angel at home and only have violent outburst outside the home? In my 17 year old’s life I have influence, (sure, not as a much as I might like) because she isn’t autonomous or self reliant. She still relies on me for her sustenance and her fun so I have that as leverage. Responsibility= privilege. I get that each situation is different. These stories make me question if some folks aren’t walking around with their head in the sand.

Just wonder how someone who lives under your roof, who you are supposed to love, can become so fucked up without anyone doing something.

Could be a case of teen alcohol / drug abuse. In my personal situation, he was on drugs – I never knew the signs (since I was not a user). Maybe his parents didn’t know what to look for… Sometimes psychos can be charming to everyone but thier victims – That was my ex also. No one believed me when I told them what he had done. It wasn’t until I showed up with bite marks on my face…..

Just wonder how someone who lives under your roof, who you are supposed to love, can become so fucked up without anyone doing something.

Sadly, there’s not always much that can be done. A parent can try to force a child into therapy, but therapy generally doesn’t work unless the patient is receptive to it, and even then it’s not foolproof. If the child simply refuses, your options are discipline, which could backfire, or committment, which is nearly impossible. At this particular age, parents have extremely limited influence.

I am so sick of hearing that acne medication usually Accutane causes people to go crazy. I took accutane when I was 18. I am 29 now & have 3 beautiful children who I would never think of harming.

I pray that he doesn’t get off with an insanity plea!! He need to pay for what he has done…

So sad, scum is scum girls, you can’t fix them. This poor girl didn’t even have a chance to gain the maturity to learn that.

Agreed. She was just so pretty. She probably could have walked down the halls of her school with a different boy every day… Homie knew she was too good for him. He knew that she could do better. UGH!