to be horrified by parents taking illegal drugs at family parties?

[BillieBonkers]

Parents disappearing upstairs and taking Coke, or smoking / inhaling cannabis while their kids are playing in other rooms, seems to be getting more and more 'usual' at parties or get togethers round here. And I feel like my other half and I are the only ones to find this upsetting and very worrying. There is one particuar couple with kids at the same school as ours who do this more than others, but they are cerainly not the only ones. And the attitude seems to be that this is quite acceptable, and if you don't agree then you are somehow abit 'square' or uptight (like being back at college...)
These parents are all in their 30s and 40s.
The worst time was when this couple had a party for their 8 year old, where about 20 other children were invited (without parents). A few other parents did stay (including me because I was concerned about leaving mine there unsupervised). During this party, while responsible for other children, this couple and a few others smoked dope, drank and took cocaine and were all completely 'under the influence'.
Their kids seem happy and well looked after, but do I have some responsibility to do anything about this, before something bad happens to one of those children :(

Yes. You should report them to the authorities and keep away from them. Its totally unacceptable

It is illegal both to take drugs and certainly to have children in your sole care while under the influence. Coke, I would be horrified.

YANBU. That kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and horrifying. You could report them for being in possession of illegal drugs but would they figure out if it was you?

I'd get some new friends...

I would feel uncomfortable with this too but I think my strategy would be to avoid those kinds of parties with my kids. I don't think I'd report it to anyone - as you said they seemed happy and well looked after, I'd only step in if I thought the children were at risk and if I wasn't at those parties I wouldn't be able to tell.

You need to change your circle of friends!

That's awful.

I've no quibble with a couple of beers but getting out of it is not on.

I too would get some new friends - they sound awful tbh.

if the kids werent there i would say none of your buisness tbh, but in charge of the kids and at a kids party they wouldn't be friends of mine!

Why do i never get invited to these parties?

Its because people don't report these things that children ARE at risk. Doesn't matter how well looked after and happy they 'look'

Christ on a bike - soirées chez 'Pru suddenly feel decidedly tame

Bloodyhell get some new pals & ones you can trust!

Also report them to the authorities. Sooner rather than later. Imagine what could happen to a child & they'd be off their heads to deal with it. Selfish bastards.

I would speak to the police tbh (you can ring the non-emergency no).

Having seen someone totally flipped out + reacting badly to Coke once there is no way I would allow my kids near that and would be very unhappy to think that other parents were unknowingly doing the same.

But I also vote get some new friends!

at bof.

Thats not normal. I do know some 'social drug takers', but none of them would ever take drugs when they were responsible for their - or other people's - children. Totally irresponsible.

I don't think it's any more prevalent than it ever was. Although perhaps not at parties specifically for kids. Most I've ever been offered was a medicinal glass of wine.

I've known dope consumed when children were in the house but not cocaine.

Maybe you are Bof - as the kind of Cinderella figure to be the responsible adult while everyone else gets off their faces

Mine tomorrow night bof?

Whilst I'm not advocating the use of illegal drugs..... would you feel the same if parents were just having a drink at these parties, out of interest?

Why would they take coke and dope at the same time? Seems very odd to take an upper and a downer together. Apart from that, of course you're not being U. Very irresponsible behaviour quite apart from the illegalities of it.

I don't like kids' parties anyway really, Gerroff, and can't see me taking any gear to an adult one because I hate sharing it's a bit daft at our age. Still, I think if I had to go back to the days of enduring a room full of squealing eight year olds, I'd probably be found mainlining heroin in the bathroom, to be honest

LOL at Lebof!!!!

Thank god and all his seraphim and cherubim that I have escaped small child party hell as well.

Mind you I have 14 16-year olds staying in 2 weeks and

Is this true? Really? You and your DH are the only ones who don't take drugs and drink at a kids birthday party? Snorting coke during the day/ early evening while kids are awake in another room? This happens? It is common practice? How absoloutly extraordinary. I really don't know whether to believe this.
I don't even serve alcohol at kids parties. When my and DH families come for DD's birthday at the weekend it will be tea/ coffee or soft drinks. I would have no serious objections to people having a couple of beers if they wanted but really I think it is a bit inappropriate to drink alcohol at a kids birthday party.
Report them? Well if the kids are being endangered I suppose you have to. At the very least I would be tipping off other parents not to leave their kids in their care again.

GetOrf