Drugs

[Porty]

[rathbone]

[mr magnolia]

[bellybabe]

Good topic, Porty. I've been thinking about it on and off all morning.

Openness is generally the favoured approach in our family, but like you I know others where that's worked and others where it hasn't. Openness was not a policy in other half's family; other half never touched recreational drugs aside from alcohol, but her brother did. Nor was it a policy in my family; I haven't done it (but not for any moral reasons, just personal ones) but one or two brothers have. Having said that, as one of the E generation, there are very few friends who haven't. I still feel that Mr M is right though and openness and information are the best things we can give.

I recently had some training on drugs (no, not on drugs) and we did an exercise called the circle of harmfulness where we had a list of eight, or maybe ten, drugs, and we had to divide a circle up into sections according to which we thought were the most harmful. Everybody put heroin down as the worst thing. Most people put cigarettes and alcohol as the least damaging. Since that is the opposite, at least physiologically speaking, of the truth, maybe we all need much more education. Alcohol does the most damage to your body and arguably has the biggest social and economic consequences...yet everyone thinks it's ok because it's legal. And actually a lot of the kids know better than we do about this stuff.

[Guest]

Yeah, it's a toughie. What I really think is that there should be a range of safe and legal drugs that people can enjoy. Ironically, the drugs that are legal (alcohol, cigarettes), are extremely dangerous and less dangerous drugs are illegal. The law is an ass in this respect and no wonder that our kids are confused. Hardly a week goes past without some prominent person (usually a recently-retired Chief Constable) declaring that cannabis should be legalised. Anyone read Ben Elton's High Society? Interesitng idea, that all drugs should be legalised and theefore taken out of the hands of criminals altogether. Heroin kills because it is spiked or because it is of unknown strength.

Anyone who knows anything about drugs knows that it is a nonsense to suggest that smoking dope inevitably leads to taking more dangerous drugs. However, I know from personal experience that because cannabis is illegal you have to use a dealer to buy it. And of course your friendly local dealer often has other goodies to tempt you with. I had great times with drugs and I had terrible times too. In the end I agree, it's best to be as open and honest as possible and hope that your kids are smart enough to make the right decisions, whatever they may be.

[Porty]

It seems that the few who have responded are more or less of the same view. You all make excellent points. I know at least 2 of the kids have used dope. I don't like it but at least I know and trust them.. Personally, if one of them came home and announced that they had taken up smoking I would be distraught and disappointed.

Ive not read the Ben Elton Book but I agree with the point of view.

[Epykat]

Personally speaking, I knew very little or nothing about drugs when I was a teenager. I didn't know anybody who took them, I didn't know where you could get them or indeed what to do with them! I knew they were out there obviously but we weren't told about them at school. Therefore I lived in ignorant bliss until I was old enough and wise enough to deal with the problem when it came along. I think kids are too informed these days about sex and drugs thereby arousing their curiosity and their natural inclination to experiment with things they've heard about. We don't have a drugs policy with our two. I would hope that neither of them will experiment but I can't say that they haven't or won't. Like most things with teenagers we cross our fingers!

[bearcub]

[Check-out_Chick]

Me beeing a teenager i thought id give you my views....Im not saying im an angel ..anything but as im sure my mum will agree but i think parents should talk with their kids more about drugs ..i personally dont do them but i do knew sum people who have/are addicted to drugs mainly dope/pills ..and they have said their parents are ok with this .....?!

I get kids younger than me trying to sell drugs to me ...does any one else think this is at all wrong...i also know sum people who take drugs with their parents and thier parents buy it for them

[Epykat]

Well don't be bringing them back to stay the night!

[Check-out_Chick]