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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How would you feel if your DP takes cocaine?

261 replies

serexcited · 19/02/2024 16:20

If they do, how do you feel? If they don't, how do you think you would feel if they did?

My DP takes coke when he's on a night out / drinking alcohol. I've caught him a few times taking it even when sober. I knew this when I first met him, I didn't mind. A few months into the relationship it made me uncomfortable. Years later, we have a beautiful baby. I find it disgusting. I hate it so much. He says "all of my friends do it, everyone does it nowadays" which where I live is actually true. It makes me sad to be honest. He cannot go on a night out without it. We planned a very last minute outing on Saturday, as my mum offered to watch baby for the night. As soon as I said to him about a night out there he was on his phone texting to get coke. We've had so many arguments about this. I don't want to be in a relationship with a man that takes coke. I don't want my baby's father to take coke. I cannot control him . I've told him already it's coming very soon where I'm going to give him the option of me and baby or coke. It's annoying me now.

when we come home after a night out he lays staring at the ceiling because the coke doesn't allow him to sleep. When the bag is coming to an end, he acts an animal and licks the bag inside out. I REFUSE to kiss him because he puts the coke around his gums and I can literally taste it.

I know this is partly my fault because I knew he took it when I got with him.

AIBU? should I just let him work away and pretend I don't know he has it. How would you feel?

OP posts:
SpaceChocolatel · 19/02/2024 19:11

I'd find it sad, and not attractive. Apart from finding addiction, and related behaviours such a turn off, the fact he was wasting money that could be spent on a better life for our family would be a deal breaker. I would also not trust him to look after, and role model for his child.

tuesday2am · 19/02/2024 19:11

As someone whose DH has battled cocaine addiction, I can perhaps provide a slightly different view point.

I’ve always been completely against drugs of any kind, however my DH and I had already been together for years and had a DC together before he started taking it. He didn’t even go on nights out and barely drank, but he did find himself in an extremely high pressure job and was completely burnt out. He also happened to work in an industry where it is utterly rife. Someone offered it to him in work, he (very stupidly) took it, and suddenly his highly stressful job suddenly felt easier and more manageable. And thus, an addiction was born.

Over a year later before I found out about it, and was completely by chance when I stumbled upon a bank statement…

My world fell apart. But I was determined. I didn’t bring a child into this world for them to have an addict as a father and for their life to be ruined because of this. I forced him to tell his family, one of whom in particular had been super helpful in working with us to get him help and hold him responsible. He started going to CA. He started to and still does see a drug councillor. He does a drug test weekly. He left the toxic, horrible working environment that was impacting his mental health as well as providing very easy access to this horrible drug. And just today actually, he got a new job that’s entirely out of the industry where coke is so rife.

It’s been the hardest thing we’ve ever gone through, but it is possible for addicts to recover and for life to be better, but they have to WANT IT. Coke was ruining my DH’s life. He hated it, hated that he couldn’t get off it, hated how it eventually started making him feel, hated how much it was impacting me as his wife and also wanted to ensure it never affected our child.

He has put a lot of work in and is in such a better place, but like I said, he has to want it otherwise it’s futile.

My child absolutely adores their dad. For me, I of course had to ensure that no matter what, they would always be in a safe environment. But I also know that having their dad not be as present in their life or having our family fall apart is something our DC would have suffered greatly from too, so I was absolutely determined that DH would get better - and luckily he was determined to get better too.

Not all coke users are losers or scum. My DH is kind, selfless and gentle. He would never intentionally hurt someone and like mentioned, he never even drank much or went on nights out. He just stupidly agreed to try coke during a stressful working day and that was it for him.

If your DP wants to get better, it has to be for himself, it can never be for just you or your child as that won’t work. He has to really want it for him. If he isn’t at that place, then I would recommend getting yourself and child away until a time comes where he is ready to get off coke for good - and be aware that time may never actually come.

My thoughts are with you, I know how much of a horrible place this can be.

CanaryMary · 19/02/2024 19:18

I used to be in a long term relationship with a coke user and weed smoker I didn’t but was his choice however he asked me to marry him and have a family I said no and I left as I knew then that I didn’t want to have that life
he still uses now and is in his 50s! So do all his friends.
Don’t blame you for feeling the way you do
i guess it depends on the rest of the time your with him whether you can live with it. Sounds like he isn’t going to give it up! So ask your self ..
is he a good partner and parent otherwise? Can you overlook this and do you think your child’s safe? (My friends son once found coke in his father’s bedside drawer , luckily he didn’t take it )

Universalsnail · 19/02/2024 19:22

How often is he actually taking coke? There is a lot of OMG hes an addict comments, but so far the OP hasn't said anything that makes it look like he's an addict opposed to a recreational user.

And that doesn't mean that she should stay with him, but some of these replies are, based on the information given, ott. Lot of misinformation about addiction happening in this thread.

Lifeomars · 19/02/2024 19:23

This from Release website is worth taking notice of

  • Cocaine and alcohol: alcohol can increase the levels of cocaine in the blood by about 30%. It also enables the production of a psychoactive cocaine metabolite (cocaethylene) with a longer duration in the blood. The combination of these two substances also increases heart rate and blood pressure, which could lead to a higher risk of heart attack. In addition, cocaine use can enhance alcohol’s intoxicating effects (i.e. make you feel even more drunk). Violent behaviour and suicidal ideation are not unknown with the use of these two substances.
Lots of people combine coke and alcohol and are not aware of the two interact and that together they make a substance called cocaethylene which doubles the half life of the coke.
itsmyp4rty · 19/02/2024 19:23

I wouldn't be with someone who took coke and I definitely wouldn't have a child whilst living in an area where 'everyone' does coke - because what future do they have? I haven't met anyone who took coke since I was at university decades ago. I just don't, and wouldn't, move in those circles.

Doseofreality · 19/02/2024 19:24

I wouldn’t have a DP who does coke, I’d leave them if they did.

Evaka · 19/02/2024 19:25

I left my husband because he was a little too fond of the marching powder. I couldn't hack it. He was a nice person, successful and interesting when he wasn't coked up but it turned him into a glass eyed, embarrassing and selfish pig.

Dogfisher · 19/02/2024 19:27

He would be my ex.

AarlowDK · 19/02/2024 19:28

I work with children in schools, some of whom are in families where drugs are accepted.
Their ‘normal’ is awful, surrounded by and absorbing this lifestyle.

I asked an 8 year old what she wanted to be when she grows up - get answer - “ a drug dealer, cos they have loads on cool clothes and big cars”. Is that really what you want you LO to be surrounded with.

MartinsSpareCalculator · 19/02/2024 19:28

I wouldn't be in a relationship with a drug user. I understand that it's very common, but I don't like it, and it means our morals would be wildly misaligned.

I also think that at my age its a bit sad.

puzzledout · 19/02/2024 19:28

Tellmeifimwrong · 19/02/2024 16:27

It's not as simple as "why did you have kids with man who takes coke". I used to take coke occasionally, pre-kids, as well as other recreational drugs. The second I got pregnant with my first, I knew I'd never take drugs again. I don't get why men can't do the same. This is how we end up in relationships with them, because we believe they will do as we would, and give up our vices once we become parents. But they don't.

I wouldn't have started a relationship with either of you in the "hope" you'll change.

puzzledout · 19/02/2024 19:31

bingoringo4 · 19/02/2024 16:52

My parter can only tolerate drinking if he does a few lines. I don't mean 2/3 drinks I mean a proper night out and that only happens 1/2 nights a year. I can deal with that, but if he was a proper addict and it was affecting mine and my family's life he'd be gone. I know people who can't function at work with out it and do it as soon as they open their eyes. That would be a no no for me and I would be out. I tried it once years ago and didn't like it. Same with weed, drugs just seem to knock me out for some reason.

Oh the not a proper addict line.....

Give it time......

Lifeomars · 19/02/2024 19:43

Coke users can be:

Users, those who may take it as part of their working day so this could be chefs, politicians, people in the entertainment industry and so on
Cruisers, people who may occasionally dabble as a treat or to celebrate an occasion, I used to fall into this category but haven't touched it for years
Boozers, people who regularly use coke and alcohol on a night out with the additional risk of cocaethylene which is created in the body when both substances are present . It doubles the half life of the coke and adds to the overall health risks* *
Losers, people who smoke crack (in actual fact they inhale the smoke that is produced when a rock of crack is ignited). The hit is very intense, fast and short lived and some people become addicted very quickly and lose their money, their jobs and their health at a faster rate than the people who use powder cocaine.
I am of course generalising and each pattern of use and route of administration carries its own set of risks. As an ex drugs worker I believe that the more people know about the risks the better it is.

MillshakePickle · 19/02/2024 19:46

Caerulea · 19/02/2024 17:39

Give over. The path of alcohol to your door is nice & clean but from there? Just think how nice & legal alcohol is use to groom young ppl. How many car accidents, assaults, rapes, murders it's involved in. How much DV it assists with. Prof David Nutt did some good work on this year's ago.

I'm not anti alcohol or drugs but I cannot bear the hypocrisy

Thank you and I was also agreeing with a pp up thread.

Also alcohol depending on the type relies on heavy back breaking labour and was backed heavily by the slave trade. (Rum)
Alcohol has been the cause of huge amounts of abuse, crime, poverty and ill health. And yet, it's still widely accepted and people are encouraged to drink and to drink beyond safe limits.

I'm not anti alcohol or anti drugs. I'm against blanket judgements, hypocrisy and virtue signaling. I was just trying to gently point it out.

Lifeomars · 19/02/2024 19:49

puncheur · 19/02/2024 17:24

@MillshakePickle "(and while everyone is moralising on drug use, most of you drink alcohol & that causes more problems at a societal level than anything else - bar none. So get off your high horses) and this!!!"

Really? I don't remember the last time Carlsberg or Diageo murdered 20 impoverished Mexican villagers in their beds. Nor does the owner of my local off licence seem to be running a gang of knife-wielding thugs to sell his wares. Come to think of it whenever I buy wine direct from the producer in France, I don't see armed guards patrolling the vineyards ready to shoot any peasant who tries to make a break for it.

Alcohol is legal, imagine if it wasn't, it would be controlled by gangs and criminals in the same way drugs are. See the history of prohibition in America

Caerulea · 19/02/2024 20:08

@MillshakePickle totally agree with you. Sorry if the quote made it look as though it was directed at you at all 🙏

Frazzledatfifty · 19/02/2024 20:09

No way I would tolerate this… and particularly with a baby in the house…. no, no, NO! If all of his friends are doing it he needs to get new ones, he needs to stop hanging around with people
who think this is normal - it’s not… Would give him one chance to kick the drugs and alcohol (he’ll have to give up alcohol too - booze makes addicts do stupid things.. he’ll go straight back to coke if he continues to drink..for a drug user they go hand in hand…). He is definitely an addict -you don’t have to take it everyday to be an addict… If he won’t give up you’ll have to kick him out, can’t bring your child up with a drug user in the house… And - remind him that he is directly contributing to the gang crime on the streets and many deaths in this country every year - directly contributing by buying… he should be ashamed of himself and want to do better for you and your child.. Seriously - if he won’t stop you need to get him out of your house, regardless of how much you love him. What a nightmare - I feel sad for you all

MadCatLady27 · 19/02/2024 20:11

Drugs would be an absolute deal breaker for me and I wouldn't be with anyone who took them, so wouldn't have got with him in the first place

RawBloomers · 19/02/2024 20:13

Occasional use on a big night out - no problem. Frequent use, use around children, use that interferes with relationships, unaffordable use, etc. - unacceptable.

Differentstarts · 19/02/2024 20:14

NotQuiteNorma · 19/02/2024 17:00

I like how they are always really great dads too. Some women have seriously low standards in life.

And then they want them staying over night on wards with vulnerable women and their new babies

MsCactus · 19/02/2024 20:15

Caerulea · 19/02/2024 16:33

The red flags are doing it alone & not being able to go out without it. He's got a problem & it's not compatible with having a family. Give him the ultimatum now, there's no point in waiting cos he's just not going to stop & he needs to make a decision.

Personally - I stepped away from coke cos of having kids & the idea of Pumping money into a trade that results in dead ppl on the path to me having the product was too much. On that basis alone I'd never touch it again, so it's the fallout of it being illegal I'm against, not the drugs per se. If I'd ever been at the point of doing it alone or not being able to socialise without it that would have scared me witless.

(and while everyone is moralising on drug use, most of you drink alcohol & that causes more problems at a societal level than anything else - bar none. So get off your high horses)

Yeah, just an aside that everyone who's saying "I'd never date someone who takes drugs" are you including alcohol in that? Alcohol is far more addictive than weed, and I think actually worse for your body than cocaine. Scientists have done studies on this, but alcohol is a very severe drug. It's been said countless times that if it came into circulation today it would certainly be made illegal as it's so damaging.

Yet people say "I won't date someone who does drugs" and doesn't even mean alcohol, because it's legal. Just because something's legal doesn't mean it's better for you or less addictive...

Anyway, rant over. My DP did coke a few times when we met - did a lot of drugs as a teen - he stopped when we got older and hasn't for decades now. Just like someone having a drink once doesn't mean they're an alcoholic, someone doing coke a handful of times doesn't mean they're a coke addict.

But OP it does sound like your DP has a problem, I wouldn't be happy with that frequency

Differentstarts · 19/02/2024 20:17

Op you need to put your kid first having them around a drug addict is not only dangerous but also makes a very unpleasant upbringing. You do realise if he ends up in hospital social services will become involved

Ready4ActionRyderSir · 19/02/2024 20:39

It’d be a dealbreaker for me. I’d be out the door.

3WildOnes · 19/02/2024 20:47

JCLV · 19/02/2024 18:54

It made me feel depressed too. And glad my kids decided not to live there after university. But among their friends who live there it’s pretty standard.

It's not the norm for young people in London to take coke! It is common in some social circles but most people don't take coke.
I have one social group where most of them take coke every weekend. Another group where half of them might take it once or twice a year and then two other groups where no one ever takes it.