Another what would you do ?

[M_B]

Should we not try then?? Oh what a relief my conscious is completely clear now, how can I ever thank you!!

Well it is a dilemma isn't it.

There is no straight answer to be honest which is why this thread keeps going round in circles. If she is one of the minority who gets addicted or worse then you'll kick yourself for not saying anything. If she's one of the majority who doesn't and she's just going through a phase then you risk alienating her and affecting her education and relationship with family.

She is however 17 and a year away from university where she will be able to do this freely. If she has chosen this path, will you saying anything prevent this ?

The choice can only really be yours.

[beaker]

zzz... I think I might have rated this thread too high. It has descended into a drugs are fun and harmless platform for a vocal few. Get educated people. FFS.

[SallyAnne]

No

I'm not suggesting you lock your teenager up, and as a parent I think you have very little influence but if I had a teenage daughter on coke I'd make sure she's get counselling. Drugs whether that is alcohol or anything else affect teenagers much more than adults. The "high" is much higher. There are many twenty-somethings that now have permanent brain damage from their excessive ecstasy use. The least you can do is talk to your daughter.

If you see your child on a bottle of vodka a day you'd also give them counselling.

"on coke"!!!!! Who says she's "on coke"?!!! That implies she's addicted to it, taking it constantly throughout the day man!!!

"on coke" I'd agree - get her help!
Dabbling with drugs, taking a bit of coke at the weekends, NOT THE SAME THING!!!!

[snaw]

Alcohol is a tangent to this debate, it seems the advice of some is let the girl try all illegal drugs, they are safer than alcohol, when blatently they are not. In recent years I have known a couple of people with serious coke addictions. They still drink but they can control that, the drug addcition has taken them to the depths of dispair, including suicide attempts. The dangers of alcohol is a ruse, a side track to this argument. It's not good advice to tell children coke is safe, the addicition it can lead to is not harmless, the inpurities inherent in it being illegal means it's a gamble with your life, the physical side effects are not all well known and are not easily managable, what is the correct dose? what is the safe dose? how do we know? Moreover how do they know? The advice to children, and remember this child is getting into drugs, not trying it once, should be to know they are taking a big risk with their health and welfare. Adults may realise that risk, be oblivious or whatever, but that is their choice, for a minor the parents are responsible and as such they need to know.
Alcohol can damage your liver it won't damage your brain and cardio vascular system, coke use will, add to that there is nothing more annoying than someone coked up and in your face, it's pretty pathetic, worse than any drunk and twice as obnoxious.

Well for starters I'm not sure I classify a 17 year old as a child. If she was truly a child there would be no debate.

Alcohol is completely relevant in this debate - you just don't want to tackle it because you know it's completely hypocritical to do so. Alcohol can damage your brain, anyone who knows an alcoholic would vouch for that. A drunk person isn't as annoying as a coked up person - oh puuleease, let's stick within the bounds of realism.

I'm pretty sure everything that can be said has been said on this. No one's going to change their stance, so let's just put it too bad and move along, nothing to see.

[SallyAnne]

In your case coke, but, you are still very wrong, you cannot argue against fact. I'm not telling people they shouldn't do it, I am responding to the initial dilema in a reasoned way, rather than an attempt to rationalise my own behaviour.
As a side track acid never leaves the brain, flashbacks can happen years later, it can induce epilepsy, I know someone who had a flashback while operating heavy machinery and ended up seriously injuring himself. It's important children know the risks.

So are you saying your earlier comment of "it seems the advice of some is let the girl try all illegal drugs" was incorrect then?

Is that what you're saying? That you were wrong to say that?

[BlasterBates]

"on coke"!!!!! Who says she's "on coke"?!!! That implies she's addicted to it, taking it constantly throughout the day man!!!

"on coke" I'd agree - get her help!
Dabbling with drugs, taking a bit of coke at the weekends, NOT THE SAME THING!!!!

Wouldn't you want to find out ?

A coke/ecstasy/cigarette/drink habit in teenage years develops very quickly.

I doubt that a 30 year old with a career would easily get into a coke habit.

[Bagpuss]

So are you saying your earlier comment of "it seems the advice of some is let the girl try all illegal drugs" was incorrect then?

Is that what you're saying? That you were wrong to say that?

I could dig out the post where you list all the drugs you have taken and how harmless they are but I can be bothered to look for it. Just carry on regardless, you are probably doing yourself good! Back in the real world a kid getting into taking coke is not big or clever or harmless and is not something to be applauded. God help any kid of yours, it's going to be very messed up.

[M_B]

I doubt that a 30 year old with a career would easily get into a coke habit.

At £40 - £50 a gram, thats precisely the type of people who do.

[SallyAnne]

Wouldn't you want to find out ?

if it was my daughter, yes. If it was someone elses, no!! It's none of my bloody business how much someone else snorts/drinks/pops/eats/gambles/shags/etc etc etc unless I fear they have a serious problem, then I'd alert their immediate people (who by the way, would already know if it was a drug addiction).

A coke/ecstasy/cigarette/drink habit in teenage years develops very quickly.

I doubt that a 30 year old with a career would easily get into a coke habit.

So you just ignored what I said about taking so many drugs when I was in my teens then?

Also - I dabbled with smoking in my teens, but didn't become addicted until I was about 22. I doubt there is any real case for being in a "more addictive" state when you're in your teens. You're more impressionable, maybe. More easily led, maybe. More likely to become addictive to stuff? Come on.

[M_B]

God help any kid of yours, it's going to be very messed up.

Not sure why you think that. She'd evidently know the facts and be able to spot the signs and offer good advice.

Your kids on the other hand would be alienated and secretive, diminishing your relationship.