my little brother is dealing drugs

[iskra]

My 21 year old brother is partway through his degree. He's been a recreational drug user for years, quite heavy usage at times, but cut backs during exam time etc. Straight A student. Very sociable. Anyway, I saw him at the weekend & it transpires that he is dealing class A drugs. He acts a middleman & buys quite large quantities. He estimates he will "earn" above the tax threshold through it this year. I don't think he's doing it for the money, particularly. He's fully funded through uni (no student loan even) & has large amount of savings that were handed over to him at 18. He's very pro-drugs & hyper-rational about it all.

I worry about him getting caught, basically, but can't see anything I can do. He considers me to be "bourgeoise" now I have kid & don't party/live spontaneously any more, & he considers our other brother to be uncool. We all get on, but I don't think our words have much weight for him. Our parents know that he is a recreational drug user & have done for years - they don't object in theory but worry about the quantities - but they have no idea about the dealing. I toyed with the idea of telling them but can't really see what it would achieve - not like he can be grounded...

He naturally considers himself invincible, but of course he's not. He already has a caution for squatting, would have thought being held in police cells for 5 hours might have given him a bit of a shock, but apparently not.

Not really sure why I'm putting this out there, except it's really weighing on my mind at the moment.

One correction - the drugs families who are getting weighed in by Boris Johnson around the Olympic site are getting millions, not billions of pounds, sorry.

Just a gentle piss take in my approximation of the local West London argot.

I'm too aged fo' chattin dat way sista girl. Although I am a big fan of Fat Boy in Eastenders.

Oh yes. Coolfonz, that't the issue, legalisation... unfortunately as many mexicans and colombians can tell you the great majority of the drugs are not for the country's own consumption so I still expect the same battlesof the cartels to "own" the routes crossing into the US.

And obviously, what would the US made of a neighbouring country choosing such an Anti American approach? as some old Mexican dictator once put it, "put old MExico... so far from God and so near to the United States". We can not negate that the US are not exactly respectful of other countries sovereignity. Look at Cuba... they only wanted a communist country, or Nicaragua or even Peru that was heavily castigated when they decided to find a way to deal with their own external debt. American interests can bring down entire countries.

That should read "poor old mexico" not "put old.."

Coolfonz - your "Prohibition kills" statement is rubbish. Alcohol isn't prohibited but that still kills. Legalise anything and the problem still persists, but there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Pennies - I am second guessing coolfonz here but assume that what (s)he is talking about is the amount of "innocent parties" caught up in the drugs trade, eg the mules and their families, victims of crime, the doctors mentioned by Chandra....There is an arguement that legalising drugs would cut out a lot of that.

Those who are killed by alcohol are, on the whole, at least chosing to drink the stuff that is harming them.

Of course it's not that simple but I do think it's time there was a considered debate on the subject - personally I think the only way for the Governmnt to deal with it is to make sure everyone knows all the facts and then hold a referendum because there is no way any prime minister is going to risk legalisation without public backing.

Having said that, I fear the likes of the Daily Mail would ensure there was never sensible debate on such an emotive subject.

I work for drugs services and have lots of contact with police

as others have said if caught he will b imprisoned. Likely for several years

then rebuilding his life will be almost impossible. He will never achieve the earning potential he now has as a student. He will be consigned to a life of struggling along at the bottom of society. Any job requiring a crb. Forget it

he also needs to be aware that his suppliers will frame him without a second thought if they can save their own skins when the police come knocking. Which they will

but I wouldn't report him. I would write him a letter explaining all this then cut off contact until you are sure he's stopped

Chandra - Yes, the US has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and illegality of drugs, especially when the profits fund people who suppress socialism in the region. But this is the relationships section of MN!

So to the OP, I'd try and be straight with him. And don't hide your gear in your own property Its a dangerous game he's playing. All for £140/week...big time he ain't...

what handmedownqueen said. This is obviously something he doesn't fully comprehend yet - the effect on his life if he is caught (with or without your help). Put away the morality of what he is doing (that's irrelevant and you two obviously don't agree) and try and communicate the effects of what will happen if and when the police start knocking on his door wanting to "have a chat at the station".

It's illegal, and as a consequence, he's going to be shafted for the rest of his life. No proper job. University will be out of the window. Insurance companies now take convictions into account. Plus the emotional and psychological effect of the humiliation of being arrested and the possibility of prison.

Not worth it.

I have known/been around various drug cultures for most of my life. I have worked in the drug service but also used drugs such as cannabis, ecstacy, psychadelics etc.
Its supply and demand, people have taken substances for THOUSANDS of years to change their concsiousness.

Drugs are not bad.. people are!! The spectrum of drugs and the type of drug taking is vast really vast.. someone smoking a spliff after work cannot compare to someone with £100 a day heroin habit.

People take E every weekend all weekend are more likely to experience negative side effects than someone who takes it every couple of months.

Alcohol and tabbacco kill more people in the UK than all the other drugs put together.. but people will ignore that statement and say oh yes but the are legal... you know what the drug laws in this country are a joke based on moral highground and political gain.. just ask Proffessor Nutt. Alcohol doesnt hit the headlines though.. its just an accepted part of society but its the messiest most destructive drug of all in my experince.

OP regarding your brother.. Personally I would tell him to be very very careful and tell as few people as possible. tell him very clearly of the risks involved and the likelyhood of a custodial sentence if he is caught. I hope it all works out for you both.

I am not surprised this is weighing on your mind. I don't understand why he told you or allowed you to find out about this in the first place. He was being utterly selfish burdening you with that knowledge and forcing you to lie by omission to your parents.

Personally, I would not report him. I would let things take their course and keep my fingers crossed that he is lucky enough never to get caught out. It does happen. However, it will of course mean that you have to continue managing the anxiety you are currently feeling and that can't be easy.

Devendra,
Do you think alcohol is "the messiest most destructive drug of all" because it is intrinsically more dangerous/damaging/addictive as a substance or because it is legal and therefore more acceptable and readily available?

There's no agenda behind the question, it's something I am wondering myself and I'm interested in others' views.

I think a little of both Eldritch. Alcohol is so much part of our social norm, to have a glass or two or even a bottle of wine a night is considered acceptable by so many yet the health risks from even such a small amount are significant.

Alcohol is addictive, dangerous as a binge drink and lowers inhibitions. It is also a depressant.

I work within a primary mental health setting and basically out of around 20 refferals we recieve per week at least HALF will have alcohol featuring in there somewhere, usually not as the primary problem but definately in there. Now I find that staggeringly depressing as the NHS has cut alcohol services down to practically nothing in our area. I accept that there are certain types of drug use that are problematic but I struggle with the sensationalism and misinformation that our crappy media and government spout off when there are thousands of people dying each year from a drug that is both cheap, readily availble and legal... oh and gives the government lots of tax!!

I believe in personal choice about what I decide to put into my body, I would like unbiased information about the possible effects and drug laws that actually reflect percieved risk...

Psilocybin containg mushrooms (magic mushrooms) were classified as class a a few years ago... its a joke!

Of course all substances that we put into our bodies will pose some risks but I just wish that risk could have some real perspective and do without the moral judgments that our media so love to do.

People would report their own brother to the police for dealing a few pills to their mates at Uni?

With all the attendant negative effect that having a criminal record would deliver on employment prospects, travel, etc., etc.,? Because of some E's?

I wonder how many of the people that would report them have been to University and experienced that type of culture? That would be interesting to note.

Not sure what you can do, Iskra, I'm sure he thinks he's being very liberal and progressive and sticking it to the Man. Just try and drum into him that getting caught would be really ~ difficult and he needs to keep his little bohemian, freewheeling mouth shut about what he's up to and be really careful.

Hopefully, he'll grow up a bit, realise the risks to his future and stop before anything happens.

It's not a few pills though, he's making around 5 - 6K per year in profit!?

Iskra, I'm sorry you should be reporting him, what he is doing is wrong for too many reasons to note and just because people think that's what it's like at uni is stupid.

He's a drug dealer, end of and could be responsible for people get into heavier drugs or dying..... and what for because he thinks it's cool!?

What would you think if it was one of your kids that he pushed the drugs too and something happened?

"Anyway, I saw him at the weekend & it transpires that he is dealing class A drugs. He acts a middleman & buys quite large quantities"

From the OP.

Doesn't like a bunch of students knocking up happy pills to sell to their mates, does it?

Sounds like he is doing it because he gets some sort of buzz from it and enjoys shocking people.

Doesn't sound like I should say.

"People would report their own brother to the police for dealing a few pills to their mates at Uni?"

My turn to be . It's not "a few pills".

If, as Coolfonz says, he is 'earning' around £140 a week, that hardly qualifies him as Pablo Escobar, does it?

I just can't see how what he is doing merits a possible jail sentence; your mileage might vary.

God MN is a scary place sometimes. No OP, I would not report my little brother for dealing drugs. Mine is a recreational user of drugs and very pro-freedom to take drugs. He got stupidly involved with the dealing side a while ago and got caught and arrested. He spent the night in a cell and was facing charges of possession with intent to supply. This would have meant him moving out of home (Mum's job came with accommodation) and possibly losing his job. He was a massive twat and no longer deals/assists dealers by driving them places.

The difference was that he respects my views, despite being old and bourgois, and he took my (amongst others') advice. I guess he'll get caught at some point and regret dealing for a good long while, in the meantime, keep letting him know why his actions are so stupid and wrong.

And to all of you - I didn't/wouldn't stop my son from seeing his uncle based on his drug use. Get real.

Reckon he should read this thread actually.

Eric, as Katisha said read the whole thing and not what suits your arguments.

1. he is a dealer
2. he makes money out of it
3. it's illegal
4. why is it acceptable because he's at uni
5. how would the OP feel if he gave one of her children drugs?
6. so what if he fucks up his life and future career because he's the one that would be doing it no one else.

There is no excuse so for you to excuse this behaviour is wrong, as is the OP.

I read the whole thread thanks, and was in a similar position, although I only found out afterwards. I stand by what I said.

1- yes, and that's wrong
2- yes, that's kind of the point of dealing
3- yes, and he's taking a massive, stupid risk
4- I never said it was
5- I doubt he would unless he's a sociopathic moron. Not all drug dealers are evil people
6- He needs advice, not family members to shop him to the police.

I am not excusing the behaviour. I am stating that I would not report a family member, or friend, to the police, rather I would give my opinion very strongly and expect that time would do the job for me if they chose not to listen.

Katisha was actually suggesting that the OP's brother read the thread, not me.

Not all drug dealers are evil!? are you for real!?

Yes they are, they are low life's who should be stopped.