DS curious about drugs.

[CatBusStop]

DS 15 is curious about trying various drugs. I’m so proud that he feels he can talk to me but am freaking out a bit. I don’t know if I dealt with the conversation well?
IABU though as by that age I had done plenty and my mum didn’t/doesn’t have a clue…
He said he has tried a vape and felt a nicotine buzz(?). And that he wants to experience feeling “out of it”. He asked about cannabis and LSD. He has combined type ADHD and I said this could mean experimenting is more risky for him than others, especially with psychoactive drugs. I showed him the Talk to Frank website, and also an adhd page about drugs.
I said I can’t stop him trying and that if he did he should make sure he’s in a safe environment with people he trusts. But said I don’t approve, but I’m always here for him to speak to, and obviously he can call if he’s ever in danger, worried or in trouble.

How did I do? He totally caught me by surprise and I hope I haven’t either been too permissive or scared him off from speaking to me.

All you can do it try to educate him.

I would say I was also interested in researching it and 'why don't we watch some things together'. Try to find some TV shows that are factual rather then sensational.

I would be more concerned about why he felt he needed to try them and speak to him about this and try to redirect this on a healthier direction, sport, travel, a hobby, a pet.

I also wonder if he's seeking away to self medicate for his conditions? Could you explore alternative legitimate treatment for him?

He takes adhd meds during the school week, but doesn’t want to take them at other times. Maybe if I said they were similar to speed he would 🙄

I’ve talked to mine about drugs and it would be hypocritical to take a ‘do as I say not as I did’ approach. However, I have pointed out the amount of mental health issues linked to cannabis use these days, as the strength (ubiquitous skunk weed) is so much higher than it was back when we used to e.g. crumble a bit of squidgy black. Plus it makes you stink and look all pie/red-eyed.

The one that really terrifies me is ketamine. Have seen far too many cases of irreversible bladder damage - young people who will forever have to wee into a bag.

Yes ketamine definitely wasn’t a thing when I was growing up!

The one thing I’d say about cannabis is that it can be easy to get addicted to it. My DB had his dealer for over 10 years from age 16. He used to drive over to his house (the dealer) every week. Luckily his first wife refused to allow him to smoke it so he stopped. I do know people who have a spliff for relaxation and aren’t addicted per se. Or say they aren’t.

I only had ketamine once at a party years ago. That was enough for me. The Spaniards I was with though were addicted to it. Ket heads.

I was never addicted when i did it. I could take it or leave it

Yeah well there are stories of stoners. My brother was also unemployed and then worked afterwards. If you get stuck in the cycle of your dealer visiting you once a week then definitely you can be addicted. Not same for everyone though.