To get involved with this

[NCforthisoc]

Genuine question from someone with slight ASD (so I don’t always know if a course of action is socially or even ethically appropriate or if I’m sticking my nose into other people’s business).

New mum and boyfriend at the end of our street - had a baby about two weeks ago. They have moved in quite recently so we don’t know them but I did knock on her door now the baby is here and say congratulations. Anyway, the other night we went out and there was a HUGELY strong smell of cannabis coming right out of that house (definitely that house). Went again last night and same thing. I worry about the newborn baby. Should something be said to say HV or social services? Like I say, I genuinely don’t know in these situations - everything inside me says it’s not good for a newborn baby to be exposed to that, but maybe it’s worse to get involved, and I would appreciate a steer!

YABU - get your nose out their business, cannabis isn’t that bad anymore

YANBU - you should say something (but what and to whom?)

Keep out of it. From personal experience with my ex, social services won't be interested unless both parents are so caned that the child is being heavily neglected.

It's so sad isn't it. Keep your distance, only report if you feel the baby is really being neglected. Even then sadly it's likely nothing will happen. The world is a shit place some

*sometimes. No doubt lots of posters will be along soon to tell us the benefits of cannabis and how amazing it is and how we should all be smoking it. I do not agree.

If you’re smelling it outside the house presumably they are smoking in the garden or out of a window? Or maybe they are growing some and not smoking at home at all. You really can’t know anything just from the smell.

If they are smoking one a night that’s really no different to having a beer or a glass of wine, and likely much healthier than a cigarette if they aren’t mixing it with tobacco. Since you don’t know anything else about this family or have any other reason to worry you should probably mind your own business.

I don’t know if I would, but it’s helpful to know for the future you can do an anonymous referral to social services via the nspcc website and just share as much info as you have about the situation.

In this situation id report to SS. Can’t hurt, and it might be part of a bigger picture they might need to be aware of.

If they’re just smoking weed unfortunately SS won’t do anything, but you don’t know that they’re just smoking, those that smoke illegal drugs are often not the best parents in other ways too

Thank you - this is really helpful. I know enough to know a) that the wide effects of passive cannabis smoking for a newborn is worse than being around a parent drinking a glass of wine and b) that smoking illegal drugs round children, even drugs that I myself have smoked pre children and don’t consider in and of themselves super dangerous to the individual, is a red flag for other poor parenting. But it’s useful to know that nothing will or could really be done.

Thank you!

Keep out of it, and stop calling at the house