Some parents trying to rationalize drug use legal or illegal.

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WhatInThe

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Saw this article in which some parents are trying to justify recreational drug use while parenting. Not necessarily talking about inner city junkies or suburban potheads which is bad enough. But these suburban parents talk about it like it is 'special' or they're in a cult or something.

Even parents who drink alcohol to excess not good. Are these parents simply addicts who never got caught or had to pay a price? Man and woman children who refuse to mature? I can't see this ending well. Hopefully this glorification/rationalization is isolated. Drug or alcohol addicted parents is a problem that I get but this takes it to a new level.

MSN

They say they try to keep their drug use secret even from their kids, family etc but people can tell when someone is high or off just like they can see a drunk. Why keep it a secret while trying to rationalize it?
 

Of course they try to rationalize their drug use. They know they are being irresponsible parents, possibly even criminally neglectful, but they don't want to stop getting buzzed. It's all a fun party until it isn't, until a kid wakes up at 1A.M. with 104 fever and mom and dad are to wasted to deal with it.

In my opinion it doesn't matter if it's alcohol or drugs, if you are parenting while under the influence you are not able to be a fully cognizant parent, and that is neglectful.
 
We smoked pot in another room from our son, not in front of his face, but I'll be damned as a grownup hiding in my own home which we paid for.
My son is a graduate of MIT and is department head of science/math.
I always told him he was not allowed to smoke pot till college; that I would always know if he did ANY substance, and I would have.

I don't need to rationalize anything to anyone, ever. Period. I know I'm a good person, don't need to follow anyone else's rules to know that. So there.
 

Pepper said:
We smoked pot in another room from our son, not in front of his face, but I'll be damned as a grownup hiding in my own home which we paid for.
My son is a graduate of MIT and is department head of science/math.
I always told him he was not allowed to smoke pot till college; that I would always know if he did ANY substance, and I would have.

I don't need to rationalize anything to anyone, ever. Period. I know I'm a good person, don't need to follow anyone else's rules to know that. So there.
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@Pepper says it perfectly so I'll quietly agree.
 
When my kids were young we didn't keep booze in the house. It was a pretty rare party of any kind that even had beer or wine, much less hard stuff or dope.

Sure, we'd have a drink now and then but never at home. I'm sure my ex had been a drug user before we got together, but at least it wasn't harder than 1970s pot and apparently not very often.

The Problem with the Current High Potency THC Marijuana from the Perspective of an Addiction Psychiatrist - PMC
The flower or leaves that are generally smoked or vaped are only one formulation. We now have concentrated THC products such as oil, shatter, dab, and edibles that have been able to get the THC concentration upwards of 95%. There is absolutely no research that indicates this level of THC is beneficial for any medical condition. The purpose of these products is to produce a high, and the increased potency makes them potentially more dangerous and more likely to result in addiction.
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There was a time, at the end of the day, when my dad would sit down and have a drink and I'd sit down with him and have a smoke(joint). No problem.
He grew up in an era when the musicians were experimenting w/weed or opium. So, he was familiar with what was going on.
 
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C50 said:
Of course they try to rationalize their drug use. They know they are being irresponsible parents, possibly even criminally neglectful, but they don't want to stop getting buzzed. It's all a fun party until it isn't, until a kid wakes up at 1A.M. with 104 fever and mom and dad are to wasted to deal with it.

In my opinion it doesn't matter if it's alcohol or drugs, if you are parenting while under the influence you are not able to be a fully cognizant parent, and that is neglectful.
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I think one of the reasons they're trying to rationalize their use is they are more exotic recreational drugs. I guess sort of like the alcoholics that consider themselves connoisseurs because they only drink whine or something. But any drug use in front of non adult children is not good as is smoking. Even then sometimes showing one's true colors doesn't go over well.

Let's put it this way I've seen life time alkie parents try to hide their drinking for decades but over time their kids and others realized what was going on including the fact they were full fledged alcoholics.

Their children had alcohol and drug problems as a younger adults and have gone through periods of not seeing them. Kids not only pick up on what's going on they probably had to experience some extreme intoxication more than once.
 
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C50 said:
Of course they try to rationalize their drug use. They know they are being irresponsible parents, possibly even criminally neglectful, but they don't want to stop getting buzzed. It's all a fun party until it isn't, until a kid wakes up at 1A.M. with 104 fever and mom and dad are to wasted to deal with it. In my opinion it doesn't matter if it's alcohol or drugs, if you are parenting while under the influence you are not able to be a fully cognizant parent, and that is neglectful.
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And does that includes caffeine, for which recent statistics show 94% of adults drink coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, or energy drinks? It is also an ingredient in many over the counter respiratory medical drugs. And then of course there are many over the counter drugs like benzodiazepines 12% of adults use and 10% that medicate with sleep aids. Plus wine, beer, and other alcohol beverages.

Then there is the matter of how often and how much. If parents, are regular users of whatever substances versus those that say just drank a Coca Cola once all year on New Years Day at a party. I do think we can name a few drugs where even a single use over a year is a risky poor idea just because it could lead to more of the same leisure activities. And that especially includes some strong stimulant drugs that can easily become habits with many of weak self control given availability due to pleasure.

And then there are others like the recently legalized cannabis use where a parent might consume a bit at a say 4 music concert events during the year. How might that negatively affect their kids? One could certainly make a case for SOME parents that use more often, especially daily, that there could be negative issues. And taking ANY drugs often have negative effects during pregnancy given fetal sharing of mother's blood.

So my point here, is the whole rigid NO ON DRUGS narrative is never going to be a black and white subject nor ever has been. And this is not a recent issue but rather has been ongoing since human civilizations arose in Mesopotamia 8000 years ago where the most popular activity for several millennia was drinking beer and then 6000 years ago wine was added.

And what about adults without children? Where should lines be drawn on what becomes a negative burden to societies if not just individuals? This person does not have answers nor will I ever bother to become knowledgeable beyond my own choices that I greatly appreciate in this era with freedom to do as I choose. Especially if it makes my own life personally more enjoyable and worthwhile.
 
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Is Cannabis Legal in the US? | Medical Marijuana Laws
Is Cannabis Legal in the US?

Cannabis is currently illegal under federal law in the US. But many states have made their own rules for cannabis use. Some states allow cannabis for medical use, some allow it for both medical and recreational use, and others still consider it fully illegal.
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So it is not legal but instead a question of enforcement in recalcitrant States.

By this logic there could be States permitting murder and cannibalism.
 
Cannibalism and murder. That's why kids don't believe adults, because of BS like this. :ROFLMAO: Straight out of Reefer Madness.

I was not going to lie to my child about who and what I am, We were. I want my son to know me, not every detail, of course, but to know me, the real me, and I hit the jackpot of kids, yes I would say because of this attitude. No BS in my house, none, not ever.

How many can say the same or want to? Yet, I won't condemn.
 
My mother and her sister were raised by an alcoholic father who abused the family time and again. His wife (my grandmother) was afraid to intervene, and didn't. Both daughters grew up to detest alcohol and never used it.

My parents never drank or used drugs. My upbringing was so stoic, I couldn't wait to be on my own, and find out what "fun" was, so I left home and got my own apartment at age 19, and tried it all.

We never know.
 
David777 said:
And does that includes caffeine, for which recent statistics show 94% of adults drink coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, or energy drinks? It is also an ingredient in many over the counter respiratory medical drugs. And then of course there are many over the counter drugs like benzodiazepines 12% of adults use and 10% that medicate with sleep aids. Plus wine, beer, and other alcohol beverages.

Then there is the matter of how often and how much. If parents, are regular users of whatever substances versus those that say just drank a Coca Cola once all year on New Years Day at a party. I do think we can name a few drugs where even a single use over a year is a risky poor idea just because it could lead to more of the same leisure activities. And that especially includes some strong stimulant drugs that can easily become habits with many of weak self control given availability due to pleasure.

And then there are others like the recently legalized cannabis use where a parent might consume a bit at a say 4 music concert events during the year. How might that negatively affect their kids? One could certainly make a case for SOME parents that use more often, especially daily, that there could be negative issues. And taking ANY drugs often have negative effects during pregnancy given fetal sharing of mother's blood.

So my point here, is the whole rigid NO ON DRUGS narrative is never going to be a black and white subject nor ever has been. And this is not a recent issue but rather has been ongoing since human civilizations arose in Mesopotamia 8000 years ago where the most popular activity for several millennia was drinking beer and then 6000 years ago wine was added.

And what about adults without children? Where should lines be drawn on what becomes a negative burden to societies if not just individuals? This person does not have answers nor will I ever bother to become knowledgeable beyond my own choices that I greatly appreciate in this era with freedom to do as I choose. Especially if it makes my own life personally more enjoyable and worthwhile.
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My line is being responsible. I'm not totally against recreational drinking or even light drug use, as long as it's done responsibly. Even that can be risky behavior for parents though because you never know when an emergency will happen. Kids could be spending the night at grandparents or friends so you think you have a free night to indulge and suddenly there's an emergency. Parents need to be able to respond and react, and you need to be clear headed to do that effectively.
Sure there are some grey areas, we can go through dozens of scenerios as to whom and when, but my line is always going to be if there's any chance you may need to attend to children you should not indulge.
 
David777 said:
And does that includes caffeine, for which recent statistics show 94% of adults drink coffee, tea, caffeine beverages, or energy drinks? It is also an ingredient in many over the counter respiratory medical drugs. And then of course there are many over the counter drugs like benzodiazepines 12% of adults use and 10% that medicate with sleep aids. Plus wine, beer, and other alcohol beverages.

Then there is the matter of how often and how much. If parents, are regular users of whatever substances versus those that say just drank a Coca Cola once all year on New Years Day at a party. I do think we can name a few drugs where even a single use over a year is a risky poor idea just because it could lead to more of the same leisure activities. And that especially includes some strong stimulant drugs that can easily become habits with many of weak self control given availability due to pleasure.

And then there are others like the recently legalized cannabis use where a parent might consume a bit at a say 4 music concert events during the year. How might that negatively affect their kids? One could certainly make a case for SOME parents that use more often, especially daily, that there could be negative issues. And taking ANY drugs often have negative effects during pregnancy given fetal sharing of mother's blood.

So my point here, is the whole rigid NO ON DRUGS narrative is never going to be a black and white subject nor ever has been. And this is not a recent issue but rather has been ongoing since human civilizations arose in Mesopotamia 8000 years ago where the most popular activity for several millennia was drinking beer and then 6000 years ago wine was added.

And what about adults without children? Where should lines be drawn on what becomes a negative burden to societies if not just individuals? This person does not have answers nor will I ever bother to become knowledgeable beyond my own choices that I greatly appreciate in this era with freedom to do as I choose. Especially if it makes my own life personally more enjoyable and worthwhile.
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you know coca cola is not brain altering nor is coffee or tea...... ...but taking an illegal substance which IS brain altering while you're in charge of children.. is beyond any reasoning...

I'm surprised and disappointed at you David
 
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I didn't drink or take any drugs during pregnancies, including over-the-counter meds.

I was barely a social drinker when we were raising our children, no pot or other drugs. I felt it necessary to always be capable of driving and employing critical thinking skills because I was responsible for other lives.

When the kids hit their 20s I relaxed that standard. Accidentally got slightly tipsy now and then on alcohol and tried pot again, but the latter made my heart race so I stopped that in a hurry.

I was never much of a drinker or stoner, nor was DH, so giving these things up for child rearing wasn't a notable sacrifice. I might have 1 or 2 drinks a month now, and take 1/4 of a gummy once a month or so for pain or to help me sleep. I detest the feeling of pharma pain killers like hydrocodone.
 
obviously a matter of degree.

Being totally drunk or stoned while looking after children -obviously not good.

But to say nobody should have any alcohol or lightweight drugs in front of children (or some posters seem to be saying ever, when your have children even if not in your care) - that is just OTT to me
 
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