Page 6 | Can you be a good parent and do drugs?

Bruminbrum · 2025-10-03T20:52:38+00:00

Hypothetical a point for just discussion as DH and I were talking about it tonight. Im steering toward no, I think you can try but the act sort of precludes it, especially if it’s class A and habitual use but what about weed? in the home, well there’s risk if might not be able to respond as fast as you could to an emergency. But what if there was another sober adults that could respond? But then would the drugs still be in the house? what about if you left the house and the child was in the care of safe and sober adults and you smoked weed out and about and only returned home when sober? strikes me as that’s a ‘safe’ way or maybe the safest way. genuine point of discussion, purely hypothetical so no judgement and open to other opinions And to be convinced otherwise. (im also someone that doesn’t drink or smoke if that is of any relevanc)

TonTonMacoute · 15/10/2025 12:19

As PPs have pointed out if you are doing drugs you are supporting an illegal trade that brings misery, exploitation and death to millions of people. Can you do that and be a good parent? No.

If drugs were legal my answer would probably be different.

jollygreenpea · 15/10/2025 13:07

NO NO and a hard NO again. I think anyone that does drugs is a piece of crap.

soupyspoon · 15/10/2025 13:34

zebrazoop · 15/10/2025 10:18

I don’t see the issue with a bit of weed . I don’t see it any different from a few glasses of wine. I don’t smoke it in the house or around my children. I’m in the process of applying for medical cannabis as it’s incredibly helpful for my chronic pain.

When do you plan to introduce your children to it though, presumably soon as they'll need to get to grips with how the supply works, how to negotiate with dealers, how to do deals, how to drug run, how to groom and exploit other children to get involved?

Or dont you want your children doing that, just other kids?

zebrazoop · 15/10/2025 19:12

soupyspoon · 15/10/2025 13:34

When do you plan to introduce your children to it though, presumably soon as they'll need to get to grips with how the supply works, how to negotiate with dealers, how to do deals, how to drug run, how to groom and exploit other children to get involved?

Or dont you want your children doing that, just other kids?

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🙄🙄

NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo · 17/10/2025 09:01

zebrazoop · 15/10/2025 10:18

I don’t see the issue with a bit of weed . I don’t see it any different from a few glasses of wine. I don’t smoke it in the house or around my children. I’m in the process of applying for medical cannabis as it’s incredibly helpful for my chronic pain.

The problem is, some parents do “a bit of weed” which I take to mean occasionally and not in front of their kids, while others like mine smoked it like other people smoke cigarettes - all the time.

A small child helping herself to a large slice of chocolate cake not knowing the parents have made it full of cannabis resin isn’t remotely no “different from a few glasses of wine”. Nor is teaching your child to roll a joint because you think it’s funny and then having them do it for you on the regular.

Can’t afford to replace child’s school shoes that have a hole in but can afford to buy cannabis. All the time.

Some people are so blissfully ignorant when it comes to this drug. You’re only doing it occasionally and away from your kids so you think that’s how everyone does it and it’s not that bad, but you’re wrong. It wasn’t just my family, it was all of their friends who had kids and were like this too. Some of us had our homes raided at dawn and turned over by the police. That is a terrifying experience for a child. Some had parents who ended up in prison for dealing. A whole bunch of us had awful and neglectful upbringings because of so-called “just a bit of weed”.

Yeah it’s no different to a few glasses of wine though, crack on 🍷

@zebrazoop I quoted you here but have used ‘you’ in the general sense, it’s not a personal attack and I apologise if it reads that way. It’s just that a lot of people see it like you do as basically harmless. I think it’s helpful to add my experience as a child so that people can see it isn’t always.

19lottie82 · 18/10/2025 09:37

NinePoppadomsAndASaagAloo · 17/10/2025 09:01

The problem is, some parents do “a bit of weed” which I take to mean occasionally and not in front of their kids, while others like mine smoked it like other people smoke cigarettes - all the time.

A small child helping herself to a large slice of chocolate cake not knowing the parents have made it full of cannabis resin isn’t remotely no “different from a few glasses of wine”. Nor is teaching your child to roll a joint because you think it’s funny and then having them do it for you on the regular.

Can’t afford to replace child’s school shoes that have a hole in but can afford to buy cannabis. All the time.

Some people are so blissfully ignorant when it comes to this drug. You’re only doing it occasionally and away from your kids so you think that’s how everyone does it and it’s not that bad, but you’re wrong. It wasn’t just my family, it was all of their friends who had kids and were like this too. Some of us had our homes raided at dawn and turned over by the police. That is a terrifying experience for a child. Some had parents who ended up in prison for dealing. A whole bunch of us had awful and neglectful upbringings because of so-called “just a bit of weed”.

Yeah it’s no different to a few glasses of wine though, crack on 🍷

@zebrazoop I quoted you here but have used ‘you’ in the general sense, it’s not a personal attack and I apologise if it reads that way. It’s just that a lot of people see it like you do as basically harmless. I think it’s helpful to add my experience as a child so that people can see it isn’t always.

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Yes but all of these things can also happen with alcohol or have a lower chance of happening than winning the lottery!

19lottie82 · 18/10/2025 09:38

jollygreenpea · 15/10/2025 13:07

NO NO and a hard NO again. I think anyone that does drugs is a piece of crap.

Does that also include alcohol?

Handmethegunandaskmeagain · 18/10/2025 09:39

Algen · 03/10/2025 22:10

No, I don’t think you can.

Part of being a parent is setting a good example to your children. Knowingly doing something illegal isn’t setting a good example, even ignoring the damage done by the drugs chain.

Also, how can you tell your teenager to even consider staying away from drugs if their parents are regularly off their faces?

I agree with all of this.

Puregoldy · 18/10/2025 09:47

I would say no. Weed stinks for a start. As would your home, children’s clothes etc. It is still addictive and causes anti social behaviour in terms for some in terms of staying in more and not mixing. It also has an effect on personality making you react in a different way so possible not as tuned in to parenting. Cocaine awful drug. That causes so many health issues and speeds the heart rate up. Possibly leading to heart failure. No one is a good parent when they are no longer here. I think the example we set to children is important. Drugs are an escape for many. I guess the question is why do people need to use them?

Flipthrfhxsd · 18/10/2025 09:50

Decisionsdecisions1 · 03/10/2025 22:11

Of course you can ban it in your house. But it’s naive to think teens won’t experiment elsewhere.
Taking a zero tolerance approach can just mean they lie and hide it better and as a consequence, are less safe.

Teens will do things that we hate, that we wish they didn’t do. All you can do as a parent is try to keep open communication, foster trust and hope that they’ll come to you if they’re worried, scared, hurt etc.

Other than locking them in a shed you can’t really stop them.

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I vote for locking them in a shed 🗳️

Thepossibility · 19/10/2025 00:49

19lottie82 · 18/10/2025 09:37

Yes but all of these things can also happen with alcohol or have a lower chance of happening than winning the lottery!

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The police don't raid your house looking for the alcohol stash. And it's not rare, our house was raided a couple of times as a kid, it IS terrifying. I've yet to win the lotto though.

19lottie82 · 19/10/2025 10:27

Thepossibility · 19/10/2025 00:49

The police don't raid your house looking for the alcohol stash. And it's not rare, our house was raided a couple of times as a kid, it IS terrifying. I've yet to win the lotto though.

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They don’t raid your house if you’re a personal user either. In order to raid a house you need a warrant signed off by a judge. That’s not going to happen unless they have serious evidence, and not of someone just smoking cannabis.