You hand your child’s ADHD pills to the school office and trust they’ll be locked away, counted and given as prescribed. That’s the routine families should be able to rely on, and recent news from Washington is a timely reason to ask how your school’s process works.

By Janice Robinson-Celeste

Audio: Audio version coming soon.

Quick Review

• Sedro-Woolley School District in Washington says an audit found student medication missing at one school, then uncovered more missing medication and liquid medication that appeared diluted at several schools. Police are investigating.
• The district says affected families were contacted, medication from affected supplies is not being administered, and it will cover replacement costs.
• School medication procedures vary by state and district. Ask how your child’s medicine is received, counted, secured, documented and returned.
• If something seems wrong, contact the principal and school nurse, request a review of your child’s medication and keep written records of your communications.

What Happened in Sedro-Woolley

On October 19, Sedro-Woolley School District officials said they were working with local police after a routine medication audit found missing student medication at one school. The district expanded its review across schools and reported finding additional missing medications and liquid medications that appeared to have been diluted, according to Cascadia Daily News.

The district says it contacted families whose students’ medication was affected, stopped administering medication from affected supplies and will pay to replace those medications. Superintendent Brett Greenwood said, “Families trust us to keep their children's medications safe, and we understand how deeply concerning this situation is.” The district is reviewing its medication storage, access, inventory and accountability procedures. It has asked families with concerns to contact their school principal to arrange a medication review, as reported in the district’s statement.

Police are investigating. At this stage, the publicly reported information does not establish who or what caused the discrepancies. Missing medication and liquid medication that appeared diluted are serious concerns, but those reports should not be treated as proof of a particular person’s actions or motive.

Why This Is A Checklist Moment

Sedro-Woolley is not the only school community to have faced reports of medication diversion. These cases are not evidence that diversion is widespread, and each has its own facts. They do underline why careful inventory, clear records and independent checks matter.

In Texas, a former Klein ISD school nurse was arrested on October 8, 2026, after an indictment alleging theft involving students’ ADHD medication. Prosecutors alleged students were not receiving their prescribed medicine. The case is pending, and the allegations are not proof of guilt, as detailed by Click2Houston.

In Illinois, a former Arlington Heights school nurse pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced in September 2025 in a case involving students’ medication, according to the Daily Herald. Earlier reports from Tennessee’s Sumner County and Cobb County, Georgia, also described allegations involving missing student medication and medication-record discrepancies. Reporting on the Sumner County case and the Cobb County case should be read as accounts of those specific events, not as a measure of how often this happens.

For your family, the practical point is simple: a child’s medicine should have a clear chain of custody, with documented counts and a process for following up on a discrepancy.

A medication handoff is safer when every transfer has a count, a record and a named person responsible.

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What Safe School Medication Procedures Should Include

The details vary by state, school district and medication. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy on safe medication administration in schools and Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction guidance offer useful reference points. Check your own district’s current written rules, too.

In Washington, guidance recommends that:

• A parent or designated adult delivers medication. It should arrive in its properly labeled container, with the required parent and prescriber instructions.
• The school records what it receives. Washington’s guidance recommends counting medication with the parent or designated adult at handoff and recording the quantity.
• Medication is securely stored. The state advises locked, sturdy storage with access limited to personnel who need it. For controlled substances, Washington guidance recommends weekly counts recorded with a witness present. It also recommends storing those medicines in a school safe during weekends and holidays.
• Each dose is documented. Schools should record whether medication was given, refused or missed, following district procedure.
• Unused medicine is accounted for at year’s end. Washington guidance recommends notifying families so they can retrieve it. If medication is not picked up and must be disposed of, two staff members should witness and document the process.

Storage needs can differ. For example, some medicines require refrigeration. Ask how your school secures refrigerated medication and checks that it is stored according to its instructions. Do not assume every state or district uses the same procedure.

Questions To Ask Your School This Week

A short, calm conversation with the principal or school nurse can clarify what happens to your child’s medication. You can ask:

1. Who can access the medication storage area, and who holds the keys?
2. Is my child’s medicine counted when it arrives, and how is that count recorded?
3. What extra security does district policy require for controlled medication?
4. Who reviews inventory and medication logs, and how often?
5. How are refrigerated medicines secured and monitored?
6. What happens if my child misses a dose, refuses a dose or does not come to the office?
7. Can I bring the medicine in and count it with staff? How can I review the records for my child?

You can also ask what the school does when medication is discontinued or at the end of the year, and who will contact you about unused supplies. You are entitled to ask about your own child’s medication process while respecting the privacy of other students.

What To Do If You Suspect A Problem

A child saying their medication does not seem to be working, a change in school behavior or a refill running out early deserves attention. Each can have many explanations, and none by itself proves that medication was lost or mishandled. Treat the concern as a reason to check the facts, not as a conclusion.

• Contact the principal and school nurse. Ask for a review of your child’s stored medication, its recorded receipt and administration history, and any discrepancy or missed-dose reports. Sedro-Woolley has specifically invited concerned families to arrange a review through the principal.
• Write down what you observe. Note dates, refill timing, what your child reports and whom you contacted. Keep copies of emails and any medication handoff receipts or records provided to you.
• Contact your child’s prescriber or pharmacist. Explain the concern and ask what to do next. If you suspect a medicine may be altered or incorrect, get prompt professional advice before relying on that supply. Do not independently change a treatment plan, especially for medication that should not be missed.
• Escalate when needed. If the school does not address a credible concern, contact district administration and ask about its formal complaint and medication-incident procedures. If you have information suggesting theft, tampering or immediate danger, contact local law enforcement or the relevant state licensing authority. If your child becomes acutely unwell, seek urgent medical care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Ask To See My Child’s Medication Records?

Yes. Ask the school how to review your child’s medication administration and inventory records. Student health information is private, so the school should not share other students’ records.

Should I Stop My Child’s School Medication?

Do not change or stop a prescribed treatment based only on suspicion. Contact your child’s prescriber or pharmacist promptly for advice, and coordinate with the school about safe next steps.

Are Schools Required To Double-Lock Controlled Medication?

Requirements differ by state and district. Washington guidance recommends secure storage, restricted access and weekly witnessed counts for controlled substances. Ask what your district policy requires, including whether it uses a second lock or safe.

What If The School Says A Dose Was Missed?

Ask when the dose was missed, how it was documented, who was notified and what the school’s procedure says to do next. Share the information with your child’s prescriber if you need medical guidance.

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