Reply #24: I have mixed feelings about this subject [View All]

[tigereye]

On the one hand, I know many people who used a variety of substances and turned out fine. However, most of them did not use anything until they were in high school or older; although I have heard that pot - as it used to be called by those of us who came of age in the seventies - is a lot stronger now.

On the other hand, I have seen the terrible effects of those using much harder drugs, such as crack and heroin, on individuals and families, in my work.

So while I do think that marijuana and other drug laws are horribly punitive and misguided with not nearly enough money given to treatment, I am not sure that all drugs should be legal. It is a terribly complicated issue.

Commercials that have the intent of scaring parents are often overkill, although I view them differently now that I am a parent. The one I thought was alternately funny and disturbing was the one with the kid brother taking the lost wallet to his adult brother,who was wreathed in a cloud of smoke in the basement.

From what I have read, research indicates that being close to your kids and trusting them, may be the way to help them make the best choices.

Just my two cents on a issue I have been thinking a lot about lately.