KidsPeace teens overdose on methadone

Hire competent employees or shut it down. It's a shame how many hard working college graduates end up there, working side-by-side with high school harry's who show-up late...or not at all.

If they stole it and OD'd on it. it's very unfortunate, but a trajedy of their own making.

"Tragedy" good lord...David. Someone needs to be Hooked on Phonics in Hot-Lanta!

Spelling aside, I agree w/ David. This article seems to overlook the fact that these girls stole this medicine OUT OF THE COUNSELOR'S CAR! As much as Carpenter likes to take cheap shots at KidsPeace, this is not their fault.

Wasn't the car locked? Why would any clients have "off-site time" to investigates a counselor's car? Is there a chance the counselor blabbed about the medication? If not, it's theft all the way. It does, however, seem very unlikely that a client with D & A issues happens to stumble upon this medication. I think when the client(s), hopefully regain their bearings, we will hear the true story. Keep in mind, if the meds were not brought onto the unit, it's a whole diffrent story. But one must ask...why did KP hire someone on this medication, usually used to curb heroin addiction?

Let's all take a minute and look at the "ROOT" of this problem.If the parents were allowed to discipline their children without re-percussions from attorneys,we wouldn't need a Kid's Peace.

Here everyone goes....playing the blame game. The kids are the ones who should be in hot water! Thats the problem these days ..everyone wants to blame what they did on someone else..

Sam wrote:

Spelling aside, I agree w/ David. This article seems to overlook the fact that these girls stole this medicine OUT OF THE COUNSELOR'S CAR! As much as Carpenter likes to take cheap shots at KidsPeace, this is not their fault.

Not at all. The fault here lies with the adolecents that wanted to do the drugs. Not with not lockign the car doors.

And by the way, my ISP is in Atlanta, I live in Allentown. But then, that ignorant person from Philadelphia probably can't comprehend that.

In response to Pats Steaks comment, there are very few "high school harry's,....show up late or not at all..."employee's at this company. There are far more Master's Degree's and dedicated people there than one can imagine.

It is an unfourtnate situation but one of their own making. They are in the facility because they have a problem with drugs and alcohol...it's called addiction. Addiction includes urges to "get high" anyway that you can and that involves being very cleaver and finding a way to accomplish that goal in any manner possible.

Anyone who has very packed some psuedafed or coricidon into their lunch bag and taken it to work has brought in a substance that can be used to get high if taken in a high enough quantity.... let's not forget about good ol' nyquill as well.

I would imagine that todays teens know more about these things than what I've seen in teh news in years past. IF someone truly has an addiction issue the motto is... where there is a will, there is a way... if they are in a treatment facility that is not enough. They need to want to work at that issue in order for any place they are at to be effective. Seems like maybe they were not quite ready to work at it.

Hopefully everyone involved can learn something from this situation and hopefully. Where are these kids parents anyway any why weren't they on top of their kids prior to them even needing to go into a treatment center? When are people going to stop letting others raise their kids and then scream foul when something happens that could have just as easily have happened in their own home?

current junkie working with future junkies,that all this is.put a fense around the place and lock them all in .make sure the outside junkies know that is where the drugs are and they will get themselves in.this slimball place is full of people learning to take advantage of the system.years ago going to a place like this was a disgrace,today its a badge of honer for these lowlife.

Red Rover I'm going to disagree with you a little bit. The unit myhusband works in is constantly full of college kids who have no care in the world, who party late and show up to work late the next day. There are many times where he does not come home at his "Normal" time in the morning because someone forget to get up, and those someones are college kids. For college kids this is their in between job, the job they get until they feel they can find something better because most of them can't hack it. It's hard to find qualified help in many areas of the job situation today, so this is what kidspeace has left

I can't help but think that some of the kids in these treatment centers just needed a few good swats on the behind and some attention when they were younger. Too many incubators and sperm donors are having children these days with no commitment to parenting whatsoever.

"Slug" As in employee and Not a "Junkie" I feel you are one of the people to "judge" KidsPeace hard without knowing what you are talking about. I know more than 70% of the employees at KidsPeace and they are educated and know their job. I would love to see the people that write all of the negative comments to step in our shoes or one better to ADOPT a KidsPeace kid and do a better job. These children aren't delivered from the fairy god mother... They have been through and seen more than most can imagine. The pay isn't great for the job we do. I can Honestly tell you I do it to make a difference. And when one of them tells me they made it to college or moved on in a positive way, it showns me what I do really matters. As for what you all write all the time.. I dont believe you should speak from our side unless you have stepped in our shoes. Alot of us really care for these kids and try to make their horrible past.. just that "their past" a stepping stone to their better future.
And to PATS STEAK I also want it to be known to you I am one of the "high school harry's who show-up late...or not at all" That actually shows up on time and does my job the right way. I love coming in to work and being there as a counseler, shoulder to cry on, one to hear the sorrow,pain and know I am part of the reason that child has something to smile and laugh about. I never show up late or take off from my job. I just want to let you know not to "Judge" a book by its cover. I would hope you have learned that lesson in life already but by your ignorant comment.. I would have to assume you havent.
The children that this has happened to are in my thoughts and prayers.

slug wrote:

current junkie working with future junkies,that all this is.put a fense around the place and lock them all in .make sure the outside junkies know that is where the drugs are and they will get themselves in.this slimball place is full of people learning to take advantage of the system.years ago going to a place like this was a disgrace,today its a badge of honer for these lowlife.

methadone is not just prescribed to heroine addicts,but also for chronic pain problems

If the worker needed the methadone for pain please explain why this person is working? Methadone is for treating drug addicts and for very very severe pain . Have any of you seen how methadone makes a person act? The kids at Kids Peace are there for treatment and any drugs be it for workers or children should be locked in a safe so no one could get them. It the kids fault (but they might be addicts) and workers fault along with kidspeace for not taking security measures to make sure ALL drugs are locked up! If a person is in so much pain they need methadone they should not be working around children!Any one on methadone should not be allowed to work with kids !Even though our local Head Start center( carbon county) allows people on this to be / work with children I still disagree with they way they handle it.

I THINK THEY SHOULD SHUT KIDS PEACE DOWN FOR GOOD. www.dcrally2008.com or www.afra.com

Kitty don't make me laugh, family preservation! Where the hell are these parents of the kids doing the drugs? Either too busy taking drugs themselves, in jail themselves, dead or have just plain given up and that includes the grandparent, aunt, uncles, etc. Those that do care are present to support the kids through the recovery process. They go through the program and progress into a more productive life. But you have those whose guardians/parents/family who doesn’t give a crap or the kids think this is a joke so they continue their criminal/drug seeking behavior regardless. Do they have kids that overcome addiction and go on to college, you bet! And those kids prove these counselors are doing a damn good job. I'm not condoning the fact that the staff had this medication and it was not handled properly but to condemn the whole place and the "good" counselors isn't fair either. I don't see where you are helping any of the kids. Had the kids had structure and limitations from the get go, maybe they wouldn't be a need for "recovery". But there is a need for both kids and adults.

Hates allentown wrote:

Lets put all of these scumbag kids in a jail cell. They should all be shot ! We are too leaniant of a society to keep thinking rehab works , IT DOES NOT !!! I say let them all O.D. gets rid of the problem !

from my experience in the recovery world these kids have experienced childhood sexual abuse, physical abuse from their parents, loss of their parents, etc. Not that there aren't kids from wonderful homes, but these kids, for the most part, have had a tough life. I encourage you to try to learn more about addiction ~ it is a fascinating field!

MAybe if KIDSPEACE paid a decent pay for the type of work they required people to do, they would get responsible proffessionals. Just because you have an M.A. or a B.A. behind your name does not mean you are responsible. Only a fool or someone who was to irresponsible to get a job somewhere else would work for KIDSPEACE.

Most of the posts are right on,,,the kids STOLE the meds.
methadone is NOT just for addicts
Kids Peace is a joke..they pay garbage except for at the top, sweet game they have.