Advice needed re teenagers and smoking/weed.

[TrustInMyStomach]

Apparently all the friends are doing it. I guess it's commendable that the conversation is being had. The desire to try is big. And some sensible procedures are allegedly being put in place. I don't want to rant and rave and shout and say no and wreck any decent communication we have. I know alcohol/smoking/drugs are kind of inevitable. But it bothers me. Any advice?

[WhatsMyAgeAgain]

Let them get on with it. They're only young once.

[Numanoid]

I also dabble in MDMA of occasions, all used in moderation and safely.

Deftones, I'm not a "all drugs are evil and will kill you" sort of person, but MDMA can, no matter if you've taken it before. There's no way to take MDMA in moderation. Sorry if I sound like a bore but I've known one person who's died from a dodgy pill, and more who have suffered particularly bad effects. It is your choice though, and regardless I wouldn't judge you based on it. :) Never taken it though, and never would touch any hard drugs, I'm too scared!

I totally agree that alcohol is more destructive, and dangerous than weed.

For everyone who says weed is bad and has caused psychosis in so many people (is there any proof they wouldn't have suffered from it anyway, btw?), think of some of us who may have non life-threatening/severely debilitating, yet sometimes quite painful joint/muscle problems. The NHS can't/won't help, it does.

[Deftones]

I'm more concerned with alcohol abuse in teens than weed. Alcohol is more destructive imo than most things. It's normalised and legal too.

I smoke weed at festivals and occasionally at home, I also dabble in MDMA of occasions, all used in moderation and safely.

I think presenting unbiased information to your child and allowing them to make an informed decision is how I'll play it in the future. I will neither endorse or vilify it.

I didn't know that many teens that smoked hence why I used to go round older mates to have a sesh

[Delphiniumsblue]

I can't see why it is inevitable.
I would give the facts and the people that I have known who have ruined their life with the mental health issues it caused.

[FindoGask]

My friends and I all smoked hash when we were at school (sometimes literally AT school). Not weed, as you couldn't get it then where I lived. I don't know if I'd be happy about my kids doing it though! Double standards. But I do agree, it's great that the conversation is being had. I hope I have as trusting a relationship with my own children when they are that age.

[weegiemum]

Dc smoking weed is one of dh's huge fears. He's a GP in an area with relatively high drug use amongst teens and has sent several young people to psychiatry (mainly in-patient) with cannabis induced psychosis.

I have a history of severe depression which has caused psychotic symptoms on several occasions. Therefore our dc are at more risk.

I won't be turning a blind eye or tacitly endorsing cannabis use.

[McBear]

Back when tobacco came out people were ignorant and didn't have anywhere near the resources they have nowadays to investigate things.

I am constantly seeing research on cannabis and it's generally things like it effect on tumours and how it helps with pain.

Laced with other drugs? If they lace it with something else, they will charge you more. There used to be a rumour that a weed called white widow was laced with cocaine. Why would any drug dealer lace cannabis with cocaine and then sell it for no extra cost! Pesticides? I'd imagine they would affect taste and no sane grower would do that.

In my experience, the weed is grown in someone's back bedroom and then sold on. Yes, they do have large houses/factories where they grow vast amounts but that is much more rare.

As for weed getting stronger, that is what they say but so often it's sprayed with water to weigh it down or it's grown by an amateur that it's fairly weak. I can't say though as I'm only a wee one.

[GodDamnBatman]

Also, tell them we don't know the long term effects of weed yet. Back when tobacco came out people thought it was harmless. I would not be surprised if there are bad long term consequences for smoking weed and putting that crap in your lungs. Not to mention, unless you grow it yourself you have no idea if it's "pure" and not laced with pesticides or other drugs.

[GodDamnBatman]

It's less harmful and dangerous than drinking. I'd just tell them you don't approve and if you smell weed or booze on them they're dead. :)

Also, remind them what an arrest record can do to your future. Definitely tell them not to drive under the influence.

[EllaMenopy]

The only thing that made me hold off on cannabis as a teenager was a frank discussion with my mother about our family history of psychotic psychiatric illness and the role of cannabis as a potential trigger. I went off and did a bit of research myself, and basically decided it wasn't worth the risk. I did try it, but never got into it in the same way some friends did purely because I kept thinking about some relatives whose rather sad lives started their descent into the toilet with drug-induced psychosis.

I think when my DC get to that age, I'll have a similar conversation with them, and hope it has the same effect.

[fortyplus]

I know quite a few long term cannabis users who don't seem to have suffered any ill effects. A few Ketamine users, too - and they're very sporty types.
The biggest problems I've seen have been caused by alcohol.

[Hillbilly71]

My friend has just had part of his leg bone removed to replace his jawbone. His jawbone was removed as it had cancer. He never smoked normal shop bought cigarettes, he preferred smoking pot instead.

Another friend's son (late teens) sectioned after serious mental health problems, none which were identified before cannabis use.

Another friend dropped out of teacher training college and gained 4 stone in weight as cannabis use got the better of him.

The few others I knew who used cannabis seemed fine.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I smoked a lot of weed; pretty much daily for a couple of years, a long time ago; my ex was something of a stoner.

When I found out DD, then aged 15/16 was smoking weed regularly I was not that cool parent. Something very Victorian came over me and I threw the book at her. I think the weed of today is a different product to what it was 25 years ago and I don't want my kids anywhere near it.

Anyhow, my hard line approach worked with DD, who deep down is something of a "Pleaser". (I know most people don't have much luck trying to be strict with teens). She hasn't done it for a couple of years now.

[WanderingAway]

NO NO NO NO is what I want to shout when I read things like this from people who think that cannabis is harmless.

Cannabis is a nasty drug just like any other illegal drug or legal high.

[ThatWasNice]

I really don't like teens using cannabis even though Im not overly fussed about older people using it.
I don't like the mental health concerns, the tobacco concerns and the general stupid teenager concerns. I'm not thrilled about the organised crime aspect either.

[SugarPlumTree]

I have always taken the attitude that weed is fairly harmless. But was discussing it with a friend who is fairly high up in Mental Health plus married to a Drug and Alcohol counsellor and she was saying there has been a lot of research done in recent years showing the damage it can do to teenagers and she is surprised the dangers are not publicised more widely.

[revealall]

Tell them it's too common. Properly cool kids pick mushrooms.

How can smoking anything be good? Filling your lungs with pointless crap. I love all these threads about the benefits of weed. If it works to alleviate MS then it stands to reason that it isn't suitable for fit and active teens.
Just tell kids the truth. I'm amazed how many children think fags are used to relieve stress ( with half the stress caused by the constant habit of needing a smoke). Drink makes you act like a tit.
All drugs are just a way to part you from your money. I love a bit but don't pretend they are any justifiable part of life,

[pointythings]

The evidence about a link between cannabis as a trigger for psychosis in people who are genetically predisposed to psychotic illness is pretty well documented. The problem is, you don't know in advance that you might have that predisposition. If a close family member has had a psychotic illness that should make cannabis a big fat no for you, but that doesn't mean you are in the clear if your family has not got a history.

And today's cannabis is nothing like the stuff that was around 10 years ago, it is much, much stronger.

I'd give my DC the honest facts and not come down like a tonne of bricks because that would be counterproductive, but cannabis is not the 'safe' drug it might once have been.

[Workhorse]

Round here most teenagers dabble with weed. I've always been open with my DCs about the psychological risks.

There is a strong genetic streak of depression/anxiety/psychotic episodes in our family from DF's side. I think the statistics are if there is a genetic predisposition, depression is around four times more likely to manifest itself, and around ten times more likely for psychosis with heavy cannabis use. I've discussed with the older DSs to try and keep it moderate (once or twice a month), even though some of their friends are stoners.

From my own experience, I had a couple of episodes of depression at university when I smoked a lot of weed. That stopped when I stopped. Alcohol and tobacco don't affect me. If there is no history of mental health problems in your family you're probably fine to toke away.

[PleaseNoMoreMinecraft]

When I was in my teens and early 20s almost everyone smoked spliffs on the weekend (and sometimes during the week). It was a social thing, we'd pass a few round and talk about life and philosophy. And eat junk food.

Many years later, we all got our degrees, some went on to postgraduate education, we have demanding jobs and families (or not). Not one of us, to my knowledge, has had any kind of psychosis as a result (not saying it doesn't happen, just that it didn't happen to us - a fairly large sample size).

The worst thing to happen to me was that I developed a nasty tobacco habit which took me about 10 years to shift. I wouldn't exactly promote it to my kids, but it's not the worst thing that could happen imho.

I would concentrate on teaching moderation. With or without your consent it's going to happen, but if you want lines of communication to stay open I wouldn't be down on it too hard.

[Loveneverfails]

hate the stuff.

Brother got in to it in his teens.

Is still in to it in his 40s.

No LIFE in between.

Hate it.

[McBear]

Slightly relevant.

I second absolutely everything Harold said

[kali110]

I wish id never started smoking joints. i was always so happy and worry free. I started smoking at 16 and started suffering severe mental health problems at 17. A decade later I'm still suffering.

[heraldgerald]

Btw weed houses in a number of suburban houses in the UK, sorry don't know how to link

[heraldgerald]

I think the ethical element should be a point of discussion with your dc, op. Where does it come from, who is profiting? Iirc, weed houses effectively using trafficked children who are prisoners within the house to tend the plants have been on the rise.

Mh implications and dangers of buying from dealers notwithstanding, would your dc be ok with this?