It's good that I'm not a politician. I can be honest about smoking marijuana. I did inhale, altho it took me a long time to learn how since I'd never smoked cigarettes. In my early to mid-20's I used half-a-dozen different drugs. None of them to the point of excess or abuse, except for alcohol.
When my kids were old enough to be talked to about drug use I had first-hand experience with the effects. I did drugs for the same reason that most people do: peer pressure. Many of the people that were my age were using drugs and I was curious. Some of the people I was acquainted with then were addicted to various drugs; observing them gave me knowledge to pass along to my kids.
Talking to my kids about drugs didn't stop them from using drugs, any more than talking to kids about sex keeps them from having sex. I did think it was important to let my kids know that experimenting with drugs wouldn't make monsters of them.
Talking to my kids about drugs didn't keep them from becoming addicted to drugs. My daughter smokes cigarettes. My son is in prison for acts he committed while under the influence of alcohol and crank.
I always feel some responsibility for my son's imprisonment. I didn't get sober until 1993 when my son was 15 years old. I believe his attitudes were less malleable, that my sobriety didn't make an impression on him. My daughter would have been 12 years old when I quit drinking and my sobriety did make an impression on her. I feel that if I had been a stronger influence on my son he wouldn't be in prison. Isn't guilt a wonderful thing?
Twenty years ago teenagers were far less likely to be taking prescription drugs than they are today. Kids today are pretty casual about swapping their prescription drugs with friends.
I wonder what they will say to their children about drug use?
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