Drug use- what do you find acceptable?

[Rachmumoftwo]

There is a thread that has touched on this already. What is acceptable drug use in your eyes? Is it OK to smoke a little weed when the children are in bed, or take cocaine on weekends or holidays, or is it totally irresponsible to even entertain the idea of drug taking if you are a parent (or if you are planning to be)?

I think that my teens would find any parent who was high on drugs or drink deeply embarrassing, sad and old!

wannaBe - The illegal status of taking drugs is a political one, much like that of abortion and homosexuality in some countries. That it's illegal doesn't stop many women from seeking abortions in such places, and it doesn't stop many people from finding and ingesting whatever they please here where drugs are illegal. That it's illegal doesn't stop many homosexuals from living their sexuality.

At the end of the day, it is nobody's business what I eat, drink, smoke, or otherwise ingest and if state wants to meddle, I feel justified in ignoring it. I imagine a homosexual in Iran or a pregnant rape victim in Chile might feel/act in a similar vein.

I couldn't take the time to read everything, so forgive me if I'm repeating, but alcohol CAN kill in one go. Every year people die of alcohol poisoning. It doesn't just happen over a long period of time, but can happen in one night with one last drink. So one drink can kill. As we all know, the more you drink, the more your judgement is impaired..... leading to more drinking.
More people die every year from over the counter drugs than have ever died as a result of ecstasy in the entire history of e. All forms of drug use need responsibility, illegal and legal. It is definitely best to weigh the pros and cons and to be aware of all the risks before choosing to use anything. Legal status of drugs is definitely more of a political issue than one of safety.

Oh I forgot to reply to that "One drug can kill" mantra

Only in the context that anything can kill if you are somehow allergic to it, or if what you are taking is contaminated with a poison.

Since 1994 there have been approximately 400 deaths in which Ecstasy has been a contributory factor. In 2005 alone 8,836 deaths were alcohol-related and roughly 100 deaths each year are attributed to overdoses or adverse reactions to aspirin or paracetamol.

From an article in The Times. The whole article is interesting to anyone interested in having an opinion on just how "dangerous" certain drugs are.

When I have been to school meetings about drugs and teenagers I had assumed that parents were concerned about it, I didn't realise that a proportion of them think that it is a completely normal part of life.

"The illegal status of taking drugs is a political one, much like that of abortion and homosexuality in some countries." but you cannot compare abortion with drug use. Women have abortions often out of desparation. People are homosexual because they have a physical attraction to someone of the same sex. You take drugs because you choose to.

And by choosing to take drugs you are supporting a trade that goes far beyond the delivery of whatever substance you choose to take.

Pretty much what VS said; I've never smoked weed because - well I just ahven't, but I don't see it as significantly worse than a few drinks (except if I was arested I weould lose my joped for career so maybe on that level).

I regard the rest as just stupid, tbh. I would include nicotine in that-

I will alwys remember this quote:

'Cigarrettes are the only legal drug that when used in the manner intended, can kill you'.

That's the difference between smoking and rinking, imo.

and as I said before, has no-one considered that the reduction in drug-related deaths is related to the fact that less people do drugs than drink alcohol?

Why does a drink equal drunk, please? If I couldn't have a drink without ending up drunk I would worry (as the child of a reformed alcoholic I very funny abouut that and regualrly have self imposed rink free months).

I don't understand why drink = drunk. Having a glass of wine with a meal is a pleasant, sociable thing to do. When my DCs are the right age they have a glass with us-it is something that you can can do anywhere in most countries of the world.
I have no intention of ever sharing a line of cocaine with them after a meal-it isn't something you can do openly anywhere.
When they are 18 you can take them to the pub and buy a drink-very different to introducing them to your drug dealer!
Drink and illegal drugs are very different things. Of course people die from alcohol or get addicted, but they are not breaking the law.

"Drink" doesn't equal "drunk"

And "Drug" doesn't equal "addict".

But that second sentence is a bit harder for some of us here to understand because they don't know these substances they are talking about.

You have a few drags of a joint and feel like you had a glass of wine, feeling good and giggly. Or you can smoke one after the other and slump on the couch like a sack of potatoes for an entire weekend.

You can have half an ecstasy pill and have a great night out, not drinking anything else than water, dancing, and chatting with everybody. Then wake up clear-headed, with no hangover and go to work. Or you can take several and be so out of it that you can't walk properly and bounce off walls, then be unable to sleep for 24 hours and miss a day of work.

etc etc

That was my point throughout this thread, incidentally - you can do drugs in moderation just like you can drink in moderation, and as long as children are under proper supervision for the night, it doesn't mean you are a bad parent. Just like leaving kids to babysitter and going out to a wine bar doesn't mean you are a bad parent.

wannabe - re "has no-one considered that the reduction in drug-related deaths is related to the fact that less people do drugs than drink alcohol?"

I would be interested to consider that, if you could give a link to what reduction you are referring to, so we can see the drugs it is referring to.

Does that mean that you will be sharing drugs with your 18yr old then in the same way that you would have a glass of wine?

I haven't had any in quite some time, and honestly don't think I will be partying at the age of 53 (when DD will be 18). So it doesn't look likely that there will be any drug sharing with the kids.

18 is too young to dabble in drugs, I think. Realistically, DC will try or at least be offered some drugs so at some point I do think we will have that conversation. But I would like to see them to leave recreational chemicals to after they are done with their studies & have started a career.

There are a few reasons for this, but the most obvious is that some drugs have far more interesting effects than alcohol, and hence they would be much more tempted to use them more frequently. It is not ideal to be introduced to drugs in school, while one needs to focus on choosing a career and working hard to graduate.

"Drink and illegal drugs are very different things. Of course people die from alcohol or get addicted, but they are not breaking the law."

Oh I see. It is OK to get addicted to a substance and go into an early grave because of it, as long as it's legal

No of course not but the legality thing matters- especially if you are or want to be in any career requiring a CRB check!.

Personally, FWIW, I think along Peachy's lines; as a parent I think there is a fundamental responsibility not to choose to do things which are illegal and can result in prison sentences and ruined employment records. For the kids' sake.

I think Cote has put across very well a point of view that other will find difficult to relate to unless they have also taken illegal drugs.

And that is the problem the drugs are illegal so for most part society and the law are against that point of view.

I have taken illegal drugs and continue to do so a couple of times a year - always when the kids are staying at grandparents and I do not have the responsibility of them for at least 24 hours - to me it is no worse than me going ot and getting drunk for the weekend and ending up with a massive hangover.

It has been part of my life for nearly 20 years - I haven't gone mad/died etc.

I have to agree with CoteDAzur on this one, just because it is legal to drink doesn't make it any more responsible in my opinion.

I don't take any drugs regularly since having my little one, I did before hand and I'm not particularly proud of the fact I did it so often, but definately not ashamed either.

I never did drink even before as I could not control my actions while under the influence. You don't have to be drunk either to be under enough influence to do stupid things that are out of character.

I did take speed very regularly, cocaine probably monthly and the odd E but only under certain cirumstances.

Speed particularly, I would prefer to use as it doesn't make me do stupid things, doesn't make me tired, lazy or boring, it doesn't affect the way that I think e.g paranoia or forgetting to look after myself while out etc etc.

I was the only one breaking the law within the group I would have been out with and I was the only "responsible" one.

Drink has killed many people immediately, you have that one too many (and as a teen its not hard) and you ultimately think that it is a good idea to carry on drinking. End up having your stomach pumped if you are lucky enough to have someone sober enough to care and look out for you, or die if you don't - from poisoning or choke on your vomit.

If you also decide (under influence of alcohol) that it is a good idea and safe to walk home alone you are putting yourself in danger for muggings, rapes and murders...at any age...

The majority of people having unprotected sex after a night out, do so, because they are under the influence of alcohol not other rec drugs.
You are more likely to sleep around and if you contract AIDs from having unprotected sex then that is it, your life is over.

Speed and cocaine (on every single occasion I have ever used it) have never resulted in me acting ridiculous or putting my own life in danger. I was the chaperone if you like.

Pills are debatable IMO as the fact is you dont completely know what you are getting with there being so many different varieties of E. Even if you have a regular dealer, there is always a bad pill. I wouldn't take it as a parent now because of the trips mainly! and the come down.

Would never touch cocaine again in my life. I never had one bad experience using it....never had a come down either. Seemed perfect to me. Could go without it too. But then when you get too comfy and start using it regularly, you end up needing it. I haven't touched it since Dec 05 and still even now if I am having a real hard time, I want a line.

But I have, and would, take Speed as long as DD2 was not with me.

Just because drink kills more people then E does not mean E is a "safe" drug, it just means alcohol is also dangerous.

OMG what a rant.

'You don't have to be drunk either to be under enough influence to do stupid things that are out of character.' well no but one drink as I have on a Friday won't do that

You don't contract AIDs you contract HIV and no, it doesn't mean your life is over. Diffrent, somewhat limite and changed absolutely: over no.

Nothing you ave ascribed to alcohol won't happen withbdrugs but with alcohol you won't ba arrested as an adult just for ahving it. Therefore drugs are 'worse'. That oesm't necessaril mean ad- IMO Pimot is worse than Lanson but Pinot is still OK.

I think weed is dfferent, i'd like to see it on prescription, but I can't see the sense in ;legaising any more dangerous sunstances- fags is enough ta.

mummypower, That's just not a logical argument. It is blatantly less responsible to take drugs - because those drugs are illegal. And as a parent choosing to do things which can result prison and ruined employment record (to say nothing of physical risks from ingesting stuff that is un-regulated and un-licensed and un-checked) is irresponsible.

Yes alcohol can be used irresponsibly too but it is not by defnition irresponsible.

cote, by reduction in drug-ralated deaths I of course mean your references to the fact that fewer people die drug-related deaths than alcohol-related ones. But that could be explained by the fact that signifficantly fewer people use drugs than drink alcohol.

No-one is saying that alcohol is better just because it's legal, but the fact remains that drugs are no legal, and therefore their use should not be condoned. If you were caught with drugs you could receive a prison sentence, anyone who is prepared to take that risk just for a high is pretty stupid imo.

I've always been live-and-let-live towards social drug users. Many of my friends have taken coke or had the odd joint(including me pre-child days).

But what concerns me is the real cost of cocaine (human rights abuse, fuelling toture)in S. America and Mexico.
I think considering we are the biggest snorters in Europe, we should bare some of the responsibility towards fuelling this trade.