to ask if you take drugs (legal or not) even if you have kids?

[dextersdarkpassenger]

I'm not talking about caffeine or drugs which are considered (mostly) benign but either illegal or prescription drugs. Do you think it has helped your parenting (or helped through difficult aspects of parenthood)? Just curious as I often wonder if I am alone as this seems quite taboo but I think drugs have really helped me deal with being depressed and being a good(ish) mum and cope with things that I don't think I'd handle too well otherwise (I smoke cannabis, not around my kids).

Either illegal or prescription??? Big difference between the two!

And no I wouldn't take drugs whilst looking after my children.

Dexter: prepare yourself for loads of grief and serious abuse.

And who is responsible for your children while you are smoking cannabis?

I wouldn't take illegal drugs now that I have children. I don't think you can be a good parent while taking illegal drugs.

I wouldn't take illegal drugs whilst around or in charge of my children

I do take very strong prescription drugs including morphine whilst around them but I have very little choice in that

i'd never touch any form of illegal drug or alcohol (unless its a one off and kids are with a baby sitter) as a parent. In MY opinion its reckless and a bad example.

I don't and never have used anyform of illegal drugs but can't imagine them being beneficial to parenting.
My husband takes antidepressants, these have had a positive impact on his life as a whole.

I've had a few draws of a joint once or twice but that's it. Anything else would never occur to me.

I'm lucky enough not to need prescription drugs.

I have friends who have dabbled with Ecstasy, Speed, Cocaine and Valium occasionally on weekends but never in front of any child. I also have a friend who smokes Cannabis as though they are cigarettes even through 3 pregnancies.

The latter attributes her children's excellent sleep and mellow nature to her habits and has said it helps her be a more chilled parent rather than the neurotic person she usually is.

I think to say that all illegal drugs make you unable to care for a child is a bit strong. It's the law that determines whether a drug is illegal. If alcohol was outlawed would that suddenly mean that half a lager made you unable to do bath and bed routine??? (merely playing devil's advocate here)

Smoking cannabis although they are cigarettes? So 5-20 (joints) a day during pregnancy? what the fuckitty fuck?

Illegal or prescription? There's a massive difference!

Drugs are illegal for a reason and unless you grow it yourself which i believe is (legally) worse, you never truly know what you're taking you dont know whats been cut with it what its been sprayed with etc. This is coming from someone who ended up in hospital due to smoking a joint that had been mixed with crack. What would happen if you ingested any form of drug you thought was one thing but turned out it had been mixed with others? dealers do it since say 2g of one drug (making it up here its an example) cost 40 quid, but if they mix it with 2g of god knows what its double the amount hence double the money they rarely care about the consequences.

Some drugs are illegal for a reason*

Just a disclaimer, ive been drug free for 18 months now, im 15 weeks pregnant so have no children as of yet.

I was pondering this last night; my neighbours (couples, 30s, no kids) like to invite round two other couples (30s, with four or five kids aged from a tiny mewling baby to about 6) and then from about 2pm until 4am they completely ignore the children (we can hear them running, falling, fighting, crying, by 9pm they're crying more, by 11pm they're inconsolable and finally put to bed. Where they cry some more) whilst getting progressively drunker, screechier and playing the music louder. They've also started leaving the windows open so the stench of weed fills the street.

How can they truly be capable of looking after the children in that state? Sure the kids are in bed, maybe even sleeping, but if one needed something and you're staggering about stoned and drunk, are you really a competent caregiver?

I wouldnt take illegal drugs - before or after children.

I no longer smoke tobacco - but I would have cut your throat before you took my last fag away from me !!!!

since I had kids I only drink - I never get drunk when they are in my care

before kids I had a fairly hedonistic 20's

I smoke weed to relax. Much preferable to prescription anything which I cannot control the outcome of.

It helps that I live in a country that has decriminalised it.

I,ve always held down a job, am a LP since DS was 6 months and he,s 3rd year uni now.

Had my first joint at 16, going on 60 and reefer madness is alive and kicking. There,s so much hysteria over it.

Thankfully some countries and US states are seeing the light. Ridiculous to put in police resources to harass and arrest people doing no harm to anyone to the detriment of solving real crimes.

Cannabis oil has known to have cured cancer. Of course big pharma does not want to give up big profits

Iflyaway I was with you right up to your 'cured cancer' remark. Really? Do you have evidence? Plenty to hate about Big Pharma, but that seems a step too far to me.

I am in no doubt that some cannabis can be consumed while looking after children (just like most of us would have a glass of wine around children, but not get legless), but there is a small risk to some people that is can have longterm adverse effects.
I wouldn't know personally, have never tried and am not very likely ever to try .

Prescriptions meds? What? Like antibiotics? Yep.
Psychotropic drugs? Again, no personal experience, but of course they could and should be taken as being healthy generally makes people better equipped to the challenges of parenting.

I am not sure why you linked them in your OP, Dexter?

Friend limited joints to 3 per day when pregnant. Its not something I would do but thankfully all seems to be well with the kids which did surprise me I must admit

Strong prescription immunosuppressive drugs enable me to parent without them I struggle to get out of bed due to pain.

Pacific - I mean prescription drugs like valium that might stop anxiety but are actually quite addictive and nasty to come off after long term use and anti-depressants which can have really nasty side effects when you come off them (like effexor). Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous (and in some cases mind altering if abused) as illegal drugs that is why I mentioned them.

Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous (and in some cases mind altering if abused) as illegal drugs that is why I mentioned them.

Yes, I agree.
But they are legal

3 joints a day???? LIMITED to that, so shes usually on more? whats she like without it? hate to say it but she sounds like she may have an addiction....