School Nurse Allegedly Steals Students Adderall

Georgia School Nurse Arrested After Allegedly Taking Students’ Adderall

LaGrange, GA — An elementary school nurse is facing serious charges after being accused of taking medication prescribed to students under her care.

Ivy Perdue Burton, a Licensed Practical Nurse who worked for the Troup County School System, was arrested Monday on drug-related charges. According to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office, Burton allegedly removed Adderall intended for students and placed it in her personal belongings instead of securing it within the school.

The investigation began on February 24. Burton was placed on leave while authorities reviewed the situation. She is now facing charges including possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and obtaining a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, or deception.

Burton is listed as an employee at Long Cane Elementary School in LaGrange, although school officials stated she has not been employed with the district since February 2026.

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What Happened

Officials say they have not yet determined the motive behind the alleged actions.

“I don’t know if it was for personal use, or if she was selling it,” said Lt. Stewart Smith with the Troup County Sheriff’s Office. “But she was taking that out of the school and the child’s possession for her personal gain.”

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office has also opened an investigation, which could impact her nursing license.

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What This Means for Nurses

Situations like this go beyond one individual case.

Medication handling is one of the most controlled and closely monitored responsibilities in healthcare, especially when it involves Schedule II substances. In school settings, where nurses are often the primary point of oversight, that responsibility becomes even more critical.

Cases like this can impact how parents view school healthcare staff and raise concerns about whether proper safeguards are consistently being followed.

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The Bigger Picture

This situation also highlights a larger issue around medication management in non-hospital environments.

Hospitals typically operate with multiple layers of accountability, including automated dispensing systems, witness counts, and strict documentation processes. In contrast, school systems may rely more heavily on individual responsibility when it comes to storing and administering medications.

As the investigation continues, questions remain about whether current systems in place are sufficient to prevent similar incidents in the future.