Would you tell your teen you took recreational drugs?

[Plasticflowerduck]

If you recreationally took drugs in your youth (or ever). Im curious would you tell your teens the truth if they asked you had you ever taken drugs?
My kids are not teens yet but I often wonder is it better to lie or tell a version of the truth.
For the record I wasn't an addict just in my teens and 20s i did MDMA at festivals and raves.
Now I'm almost 40.

My dad did, but given he was at university in the 60s, I wouldn't have believed him if he'd said he hadn't. I think I would, but also say there was a time and a place, and I was about as cautious as it was possible to be while doing it, make sure you're with friends, it's not a long term lifestyle choice, drugs now aren't what they were (christ, I sound like my dad) etc. It'd be an uncomfortable conversation, for sure.

So yes, like you, it was only at events. Fun at the time, but not past one's twenties or so....

I told the truth to my kids. I did take drugs but only at parties and only other peoples. I never paid for drugs. There was quite a lot of cocaine kicking around in the 90s, so someone must have spending a fortune. A few puffs of joints ( made me feel a bit sick so stuck to booze). Was given diamorphine ( apparently pretty close to heroin) and ketamine in hospital after an accident if that counts. I’ve never tried acid, mushrooms or ecstasy as everyone knew someone who’d had a bad trip and was never quite the same.

I think it’s a much easier conversation if you just dabbled and there weren’t major consequences.

My dad was very honest with us and told us lots of stories - from the embarrassing to the tragic. To be fair it put me right off!

I wouldn’t lie. That said, I was a heavy drinker for 20 years and am now sober. My eldest remembers when I drank, but my youngest probably doesn’t. I don’t think there is anything wrong with sharing your experiences in an age appropriate way, if they were to ask. I don’t think experimenting with drugs is all that bad. I’m actually much more concerned about vaping or alcohol misuse.

Yes, we have talked about this with our teens.