Staffer at adult foster care facility gave THC to resident leading to relapse
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DULUTH, Min. – A Minnesota Department of Human Services investigation found a staff member at Northland Adult Foster Care (Northland AFC) provided THC to a resident.
The resident, who in the report is referred to as an “Vulnerable Adult”, had a history of substance use and the goal to remain sober.
The report said on May 16, 2025, the “Staff Person” at the facility was working an overnight shift.
Near the beginning of the shift, the Staff Person’s vape pen that contained THC fell on to the floor. The Vulnerable Adult saw the vape pen.
Later in the evening the Vulnerable Adult and Staff Person were smoking cigarettes together. The Vulnerable Adult asked the Staff Person if they could “hit” the vape pen.
The report says the Staff Person told Vulnerable Adult they could use the vape pen, “If you don’t say anything”.
Vulnerable Adult then did use the THC vape pen. They later described themselves as being so “intoxicated” they could not move.
In the following weeks the Vulnerable Adult purchased additional THC products which using made the Vulnerable Adult feel “sad” and “angry.”
The Minnesota Department of Human Services report continued to say, “The mental health decline culminated with the [Vulnerable Adult] using ‘too many edibles’… and having suicidal thoughts. The [Vulnerable Adult] left the facility and walked to a local convenience store around 5 a.m. on June 3, 2025, and called law enforcement. The VA ended up going to the hospital with suicidal ideations.”
The report said there was a “preponderance of the evidence” that the smoking of the THC vape lead to the failure of the Vulnerable Adult to stay sober. It was determined that neglect occurred.
The facility completed an internal review and determined that it’s policies and procedures were adequate, but not followed by the Staff Person when they violated the facility’s Drug and Alcohol Policy.
The Staff Person no longer works at the facility.
The Minnesota Department of Human Services says in an interview, Staff Person said they were “really chill” with the Vulnerable Adult. They saw the Vulnerable Adult as a “friend” and should have been more “professional.” The Staff Person allegedly said, “I know what I did was really wrong.”
FOX21 has reached out to Northland Adult Foster Care (AFC) for comment on this story.
