15 year old gone day 20

[Unregistered]

thanks for whomever can help or just listens. My beautiful 15 year old daughter ran away 20days ago from a drug treatment center (her 2nd in 6 months) she had run away from home so many times I stopped counting the last year but never more than a day or two and always called within a few days. We have been searching everywhere, we have flyers all over the city. We have received more than a few tips saying she hopped a train out of the state. I know she hates being at home because she disagrees with our rules. The rules became basically go to school and not to do drugs everyday ( not that I condone drug use at all) but her marijuana smoking was the main issue. She is facing a few possession tickets and probation but nothing horrible. I just don't know what to do. The courts will immediately place her in another facility once she is found due to her "out of control" behavior and for missing several court dates. I believe she will run again. If I try to allow them to keep her at home I fear she will run first chance she gets. She clearly believes she should be able to do what she wants, but she is a child. My child whom I would die for, my child who my sole purpose is to keep her safe-which I'm failing miserably at. I just want her to call so I can hear her voice. We have her listed with National Center for Missing and Exploited children but at what point will the authorities or any other organization help us? Any advice out there? Her home is very comfortable we all love her, we all want to help her but I'm not sure what it is going to to take for her to see that and actually want help and want to change. I'm very afraid of what will happen if she continues to live like this.

Sad, worried, and scared in Colorado

[ccsmod3]

Re: 15 year old gone day 20

Hello,

We’re glad you decided to contact us at the National Runaway Switchboard. It sounds like you’ve got an incredibly difficult situation and are doing everything in your power to help your daughter. We are here to listen and we can sometimes provide additional resources, although in your cases it seems like you’ve tried a lot already. Contacting the police, missing children’s organizations (like NCMEC), flyers, local court programs, and treatment programs are common places parents turn to in situations such as yours. It sounds like you are being as pro-active as you can and we wish there was more to offer.

Police do not always actively look for runaway youth, but it sounds like it’s been made clear that the courts will immediately place her in another facility once she is found. You mention wanting help from the authorities or any other organizations, so if there is something else you are interested in, feel free to contact us directly with your city/town and we can try locating additional services.

In the meantime, here are a few National resources that may be helpful if you are interested.

Families Anonymous 1-800-736-9805 (12 Step Support Program for Families)

http://familiesanonymous.org/

Teen Help (Residential Programs)
1-866-357-1310

http://www.teenhelp.us/

We encourage you to contact us by calling 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929) or via Live Chat (red button at www.1800runaway.org ) from 4:30 to 11:30pm CST. Best of luck!