TikTok Dad Slams School for Giving His 15-year-old Son Antidepressants Without His Knowledge

A father, Eli Holt, claimed that his 15-year-old son was taking antidepressant medicines without his knowledge after the school's psychiatrist prescribed them to him. When he asked his son about it, he said he thought he knew about the medication since he was constantly communicating with the school.

The father, @mr.notnew, who shared on TikTok his concern, slammed the school for giving his son the antidepressant pills without knowing the child's medical history and not informing him about it. His son could have accidentally mixed the medication with alcohol or another medicine that might cause an adverse reaction.

 @mr.notnew #Washington #school #roevwade ♬ original sound - Eli Holt  

His post got mixed reactions. While some said that what the school did was "not okay" and was "overstepping," others sided with the school, saying that the program has helped a lot of kids with mental health issues. The TikTok video went viral, gaining more than 266,000 views in a matter of days, Daily Mail reports.

Holt shared that he got a call from the school's guidance counselor, saying that his 15-year-old child did not pick up his antidepressants at the end of the school year.

The father admitted that he was puzzled, so he told the counselor that his son was not on antidepressants but asked further what the counselor was talking about. The counselor explained that a psychiatrist came to the school and gave his son antidepressants, adding that his son had been taking the medicine for months.

The dad was shocked and admitted that he knew nothing about it.

Washington law on mental health services for teens

According to Holt, the Washington State Law stipulates that it is entirely legal for schools to treat teenagers without informing the parents, MEAWW says. As per Holt's research, schools are allowed to give out prescriptions to anyone over the age of 13 even without the parent's permission if they seek mental health services treatment.

As per the law, the students are allowed to initiate an evaluation and treatment for outpatient and out in/patient mental services, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, or withdrawal management without the parents' consent. The minor may also receive services in the least restrictive setting and be admitted for inpatient treatment provided that the professional in charge of the facility agrees with the need for treatment and the youth meets the criteria for the level of care.

Read Also: Reddit Users Back Dad Who Wants SAHM to Go Back to Work Because She is Not Watching their Son

A father's fears explained

@mr.notnew #Washington #schools #roevwade ♬ original sound Eli Holt  

In a follow-up video, the father explained that not knowing his son was on medication was dangerous as he could have accidentally mixed it with something unsafe. He asked what the implications would be if he allowed his son to have a glass of wine at home for dinner while he was on medication.

He also asked about the consequence if his son had other conditions like a heart murmur or allergies, things that his son may not know. He added that the only reason he could understand the school keeping the information from him as a parent was when they suspected that there was "abuse in the home" or the child was in danger.

As per Daily dot, the father's post sparked a debate among net users. While some expressed support for the dad's concerns, other Tiktok users commended Washington, the school, and other states that initiated the program, saying it has helped them or the people they knew in the past.

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