Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner on drugs. Advice please!

97 replies

advice34664 · 24/10/2022 20:41

Hi everyone. Just wanted to update on my situation, feel free to look at my page for what I’ve written previously. In short, my boyfriend and father to my baby is addicted to drugs, told him to quit a year ago but he still hasn’t. Baby is now almost 4 months old.

For a few months I gave him the benefit of the doubt, if he was ever going to get off the drugs he’d need my support.

He’s told me that he’s been cutting down slowly, so he said he was on £30, then £20, then £15, but on the week he said he’d cut down to £20 the next day he was telling me about how he’d cut down to £30, I sometimes feel like he’s just lying to me. As he lives at home I’ve obviously not got any way of knowing if he’s lying or not.
He used to be on about £100 a week but he’s said this amount has drastically reduced, I genuinely believe he’s cut down to maybe £70 a week but anything lower than that I am not 100% sure.

When he’s at home in the week he smokes joints all day, I’m worried that he just does more on the Friday, starves himself for the weekend and gets by on his nicotine vape, and then has loads on the Monday. He thinks that doing this is a cut down but surely it’s not. He wants to see baby in the week but how can I let him after smoking so much.

We’ve still had some other issues though, such as him not wanting to spend any money on me at all, not even £4 on a McDonald’s when he was getting his own meal. But really my focus for now has just been trying to get him off his drugs. He does give me £50 for the baby a week but absolutely nothing else, he does a have a full time job though.

The main reason I’m writing this today is for advice on something that happened.
About 3 weeks ago when he came to visit for the weekend I found some nerd edibles in his bag, he knows he isn’t aloud to bring drugs in my house and I was shocked to see that, but I decided to see if he’d take them whilst he was over for the weekend and not say anything.
He’d obviously thought that as he can’t smoke his weed and get away with it, he’d eat it instead sneakily instead.
On the Sunday morning we went swimming with baby, before we left the house he hadn’t taken any, I held baby the entire time in the pool to keep away from him to be on the side of caution, when we got home I checked his bag and he had taken some, I can only presume he had taken them in the changing room before we swam as he did take a long time, but I did not seriously think he’d do something so potentially dangerous.

The next day I left our baby at home with him whilst I nipped somewhere for no longer than 25 minutes, he hadn’t taken any more of the edibles when I checked his bag before I left. When I arrived home I checked his bag and the entirety of the edibles was gone. He had TAKEN DRUGS whilst watching our baby ALONE, I was mortified. The baby was on the bed with him so I can only presume he took them in bed right next to him. I don’t even want to think about what would happen if my baby accidentally ingested some.

I sent him home and made an excuse to why he had to leave early. I then messaged him and he denied everything, I then sent him a picture of them I took and he then decided to admit he did have them. He said that he took the edibles outside to take, I have cameras so I know this isn’t true. Why would anyone take drugs whilst watching a baby alone anyway!

I’ve spoken to a professional rehabilitator at his drug support place and she said he won’t come off his drugs and that he loves them more than his family. She said the edibles could have been laced with ecstasy, heroin and god knows what.
That sounds much worse than a joint. She said if baby had accidentally ingested some it would have been serious.

Another thing I was thinking about is that when I was in hospital giving birth to my son in June he stayed over at my house alone, the next day I found bits in my bed that looked like tobacco, he always only smokes tobacco with cannabis mixed together, on my security cameras it showed he opened my bedroom window and he doesn’t usually do that so I presume to let smoke get out. As usual he denied all and said they were twigs from the garden, and I’ve believed him since then. However, after lying to me about the edibles thinking back he probably lied about this too. This would mean that he smoked all over my newborn sons stuff hours before he came home.

I really don’t know what to do, I love him lots but he’s in a way risked babies life multiple times.
With the amount of drugs he’s taken from such a young age he could have induced something like drug psychosis whilst in the pool or watching baby alone.

He doesn’t see a problem with what he’s done which is probably the worst part, he says I’m the problem for keeping arguing about it, I wouldn’t have to argue if he didn’t do it.

I’ve only just started speaking to him again and as always I end up playing down the situation and forgiving him. But something about this time feels a bit different, but then a part of me just says to support him. I don’t know what to do, I’m worried for baby and myself.

Is he going to come off his drugs? Now that he knows I check his bag will he hide them elsewhere? Should I trust him again? Should I forgive him this time? Will he understand how dangerous the things he did where?

Advice is appreciated.

OP posts:
user1471457751 · 24/10/2022 21:40

You chose to have a baby with a drug addict and now you're surprised you have a baby with a drug addict?

I hope there is someone in your life who will put this baby first and report you to social services. Leaving your baby alone with a man you know has taken illegal drugs is reckless and child neglect.

Get rid of him before you have a mobile and curious baby capable of going into bags and putting things in their mouth. You could very well end up burying your baby. Do you want that? Because right now I can't really tell given you keep on ailing your child.

BMW6 · 24/10/2022 21:40

OP it's time for the hard truth.

You are failing your child by continuing a relationship with a drug addict. He should not be near a child when he is under the influence of drugs. He is a danger to her.

He will lie about how much he is using. All addicts lie through their teeth.

His child is not as important as the drugs, neither are you.

You CANNOT help him. You can only protect your child by keeping him away from her.

MarigoldMoonStone · 24/10/2022 21:42

You sound super naïve, he will know this & take advantage.
He doesn’t want to stop and because you always let him away with it he won’t stop.

Cw112 · 24/10/2022 21:46

Here's the thing, he is a grown man who is responsible for his decisions actions and behaviours. You have a tiny baby who is completely dependent on to look after them and keep them safe. I fully understand how intense and tough addiction is to break but it's doable if the person has the right motivation for doing it themselves. That means you cannot get him off drugs, he needs to get himself off drugs. Your only responsibility is to yourself and also to your tiny baby. If he's using substances around the baby and when baby is in his care alone and social services found out about that and that you knew this happened and stayed with him anyways then you'd be risking your relationship with your child and your rights as a parent. I have seen children being removed due to situations like this one. You cannot prioritise him over your baby and their needs. Sometimes things need to break down (even irreparably) before someone gets to the point where they can make a change, he might never get to the point where he can stop using drugs while he's with you so you can't keep waiting around, risking your child's safety and accepting less than you deserve hoping he'll make a decision that he clearly isn't following through on. There is much better for you out there and much better for your child. Please leave him and go it alone for the sake of your child. You aren't depriving them of a parent, you're keeping them safe and enforcing healthy boundaries and making sure that they grow up around positive role models. If he can't get his shit together and he doesn't have access to your child then that lies solely with him not with you.

solvendie · 24/10/2022 21:47

I have worked in drugs services for over 20 years. I have compassion for people who have addictions and empathy for their families. I believe we should tackle stigma of drug addiction so that people can get the support they need.

However, you need to walk away. He will not change while you are beside him at this time. Walk away, let him work it out himself and stay strong.

bloodywhitecat · 24/10/2022 21:50

His drugs are more important to him than you, they are more important to him than his child, he is giving you this message repeatedly, loudly and clearly. You cannot fix this.

serene12 · 24/10/2022 21:51

www.famanon.org.uk is for the family/friends of somebody with a suspected drug addiction. They have a helpline, forum, literature, online and in person meetings.
You cannot rescue him, your first priority is to your baby who you need to safeguard.
You cannot CONTROL it
You cannot CURE it
You didn’t CAUSE it

Ginger1982 · 24/10/2022 21:58

You left the child alone with him? What where you thinking??

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 24/10/2022 22:06

Does he, independently of your directing / pleading, really want to come off drugs? Until he does, any 'support' you offer him is
A. Actually enabling and encouraging him since there are no consequences
B. Liable to get your baby taken off you at best or ending up seriously ill or dead at worst.

He doesnt care about you or the baby. You need to leave and cut all contact or you will be culpable if something happens

TiaraBoo · 24/10/2022 22:19

You chose to have a baby with a drug addict.
You chose to leave baby with a drug addict.

Please take control of the things that under your control-
Dump loser boyfriend
Don’t let drug addicts look after your baby alone

FreezyFreezy · 24/10/2022 22:27

What drugs are you taking about? You only mention weed; yes it's illegal but it's no worse than booze. A few joints doesn't render you incapable of looking after a child.

monsteramunch · 24/10/2022 22:49

FreezyFreezy · 24/10/2022 22:27

What drugs are you taking about? You only mention weed; yes it's illegal but it's no worse than booze. A few joints doesn't render you incapable of looking after a child.

An addict who cannot spend an hour or two at a swimming pool with their child without taking any form of drug is someone who should not be in sole charge of a baby.

This isn't a joint or two at the weekends.

And the child is a baby. An entirely vulnerable, voiceless, helpless baby completely at the mercy of the adults in their life. They cannot say they need food, water, burping etc. So an adult in charge of that baby needs to be completely present.

If someone couldn't take their baby swimming without having a shot of vodka or two in the changing room, would you think that was OK? Surely not. Being purposefully impaired when caring for a child is neglect.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 24/10/2022 22:52

Never ever stay with an addict, they will drag you down. At best you lose your child to ss, at worst your child will end up dead!

DaenerysTarragon · 24/10/2022 22:57

Advice is simple - get him out. Now. Dump him and concentrate on your child. Stop trying to ‘save’ him completely.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 24/10/2022 23:01

How can you stay with a man who knowingly took drugs when alone with your baby? Why would you risk your son’s wellbeing like that? As his drugs officer said, he loves the drugs more than you and more than your son. Your son should be your priority and the best thing you could do for him is leave; do you want him to end up like his dad and addicted to drugs in his future because that’s the role model you’re showing him.

MindfulBear · 24/10/2022 23:02

Keep all the evidence. Stay away from this man. Do not allow your child to be in his presence ever again and certainly not without protection from a real grown up.

If he decides to ask for access you will need the evidence from your camera etc to back you up as to why he should not be allowed unsupervised access.

And you can ask for a hair sample to prove he is off the drugs.

Stay well away. Get yourself a therapist to support this decision.

FreezyFreezy · 24/10/2022 23:04

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

allboysherebutme · 24/10/2022 23:07

You are wasting your time. Drugs will always come first walk away. X

Togoodtobeforgotten · 24/10/2022 23:08

As a parent if an addict please do yourself a favour and walk away.

BordoisAgain · 24/10/2022 23:10

Are you asking if you should give him further opportunities to risk your baby's health?

anydream · 24/10/2022 23:28

I'm a healthcare professional. Over 25 years of working I have had hundreds of (literally. Maybe even a thousand) people look me in the eye and tell me they've cut out alcohol or drugs, that this time it's different, they know it will last, they feel so guilty for going back on it, they are stopping for their kids... I've had people speak to me the day they came out of rehab and tell me they feel so free, that they're never going to take it again, they're going to make up for all the times they lied to their family or stole from them, one told me he was booking a cruise for his mum to make up for everything he'd put her through and 3 days later he was back to taking it again....
I also know people who have stopped - far fewer but a few tens.
A lot of the people who have never managed to stop have wonderful kind supportive families and great kids (no thanks to them). None of that is ever enough.
To stop they have to desperately want to stop and be prepared to give up the pleasure that it brings.
No one else can bring them to that point. It's often a case of hitting rock bottom. Sometimes an ultimatum works. Sometimes it's just like a lightbulb moment that they get.
But it's never a partner standing by and helping them and supporting them - usually that just results in that partner effectively enabling them.
I tell partners to get out to be honest. They deserve better than what they'll get staying with their addict - and occasionally that's enough to break the cycle but not all the time by any means.
I'm not unsympathetic. Addiction is a real disease and it's awful. But it doesn't mean someone else should have to cope with it.

EmeraldShamrock1 · 24/10/2022 23:29

Oh dear he is a total fuck head.

How could he even hold a weed edible while looking after a baby.

I assume he wouldn't think to wash his hands of any residues.

He could have killed your baby.

You deserve so much better than this man can ever give you.

I promise you that he won't change, he'll fake it and lie as he has been trying.

Btw you come across as a really caring person and men like him take advantage of their partner.

No more excuses from you or him the game is up, let him piss off.

Aquamarine1029 · 24/10/2022 23:32

I'm sorry to say that your judgement is appalling. It's shocking that you even need to ask what you should do, yet you leave your baby alone with this loser.

Crumpleton · 24/10/2022 23:38

You chose to have a baby with a drug addict and now you're surprised you have a baby with a drug addict?

This.
Walk away before baby number 2 comes along.

Dotcheck · 24/10/2022 23:40

He doesn’t see a problem with what he’s done which is probably the worst part

But YOU don’t see a problem with what he’s doing. Not really - otherwise you wouldn’t allow this man to be around your baby.

He puts drugs first, you put him first. Your poor child.