adolescence??

I just found out that my niece was committed to the hospital.
My sister said that she had to trick my niece into meeting her, and when my niece arrived she could barely hold her eyes open and was "extremely high". My sister took her to the hospital, and her tox screen revealed opiates, barbiturates, marijuana, and something else I can't remember right now.
My sister had stopped at a gas station on the way and while she was in the store my niece had hidden a large amount of drugs and a razor blade in my sister's glove box, which was discovered upon my sister searching her vehicle at the hospital. The doctors discovered that my niece had used the razor blade to cut up her weed, to powder pills (so she could snort them to get high faster), and to cut herself, when they tested the residue on the blade. She had carved an "X" over her heart, "Window to my soul" in-between her breasts, "ugly" on the lower left side of her mid-section, "mistake" on the upper right side of her midsection, and had numerous slices up and down her left arm.
My niece vehemently denied cutting herself with the blade and insisted that "Chucky" did that to her. (The doll from the Chucky movies) She also said that he was always with her and even rode in the car with her, but he only sat in the backseat because he didn't like the cigarette smoke. That they had regular conversations, and that he had told her that he wants to watch her die a painful death.
My niece is 21 years old. 6 months ago she was fine, with none of these issues (She lived with me, so I saw her on a daily basis). Yes she had some anxiety, but nothing major, and she only occasionally smoked marijuana. She wasn't cutting herself, and was not taking sedatives. My sister is terrified that my niece will try to kill herself since she has been listening to "Chucky" and doing what he tells her to, I am too since this is COMPLETELY out of character for my niece. My sister tried to get temporary power of attorney, but the prosecutor said that she couldn't.
The doctor diagnosed my niece with "adolescence" and released her the next day. He put my niece on Halodol and told my sister that there would be more episodes. What does this diagnosis mean? I cannot find it anywhere, and would like some input.

--PinkNinja98

The doctor diagnosed my niece with "adolescence" and released her the next day. He put my niece on Halodol and told my sister that there would be more episodes. What does this diagnosis mean? I cannot find it anywhere, and would like some input.

Pink Ninja,

(((hugs)))

I believe that the doctor's diagnosis of "adolescence" means that your neice is at the developmental level of an adolescent. A time when kids push the caregiver's limits ~ they try drugs and drinking, being defiant.

The Halodol is a drug given to put people into a calmer state of mind. Depending upon your neice's tolerance to the dosage, it may be the right med to keep her mood less angry & more relaxed.

Hopefully, the doctor has referred your neice to a psychiatrist and T (therapist). A psychiatric doctor should be used to monitor the med (dosage and effectiveness). The T can help your neice work through her emotions in a healthy ~ and not damaging ~ way.

Unfortunately, I have recently heard about teens and young adults using all sorts of chemicals to get a "high". Like: whoever came up with the idea of snorting bath salts?? Youth are trying more things in more damaging ways than ever. Hopefully, your neice is simply going through this adolescent drug phase & can be snapped out of it easily. Lots of the chemicals now used for "high" can easily kill or cause permanent brain damage! I strongly advise you to do your best to get your neice to go to T regularly.

Very best wishes to your family ~ gentle hugs sent to you!

I'm so sorry, what a trauma for the entire family.

I strongly recommend an evaluation by a psychiatrist. Your niece has some serious issues to work through as part of her "adolescence". There may be a better medication for her, and a therapist could help get to the root of these terrible self-destructive tendencies. She most certainly needs more help than just a pill.

and to her and the family.