Has your DC started drug or alcohol use?

[Anonymous]

Just curious. My DD goes to one of the schools on Princeton Review’s “Reefer Madness” list. She’s told me she started smoking weed several months ago as there’s a dispensary not too far. I honestly don’t mind as her grades are decent and she’s involved on campus. There’s worse things she can do and it’s not like I didn’t partake while in college either.

[Anonymous]

Yes.. my 19yo Dd is doing drugs & drinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. My DD goes to one of the schools on Princeton Review’s “Reefer Madness” list. She’s told me she started smoking weed several months ago as there’s a dispensary not too far. I honestly don’t mind as her grades are decent and she’s involved on campus. There’s worse things she can do and it’s not like I didn’t partake while in college either.

I will never understand parents who believe that good grades are an indicator that their student is doing well emotionally.

[Anonymous]

We are a family that lacks sufficient alcohol dehydrogenase to sufficiently metabolize alcohol, and I don't metabolize certain medications well either. So I have never tried anything beyond a very small amount of alcohol, for fear of drastic side-effects. My 20 and 15 year olds are like me. They've tasted alcohol and don't like it (we're French and it's normal for teens to have a little alcohol at home), and have no desire to try other things, like cannabis, tobacco, pills, etc.

So no, my college kid is not interested. On the other hand, he's the go-to person to help drunk friends get back to their dorm.

[Anonymous]

I hear cocaine is making a come back. Is there any truth to that?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear cocaine is making a come back. Is there any truth to that?

Haven't heard about any cocaine use in my kids' circles.

[Anonymous]

Tons of cocaine in the DC high school and college circles. If your kid is anywhere near the popular crowd they know about it.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 9th grade MCPS and area privates. Good college training.

[Anonymous]

Drinking, yes. Drugs, no. They tried pot once and didn't like the effect. They've been offered all kinds of drugs and just say "no thanks, I'm good", and that's that.

[Anonymous]

Yes, kid keeps doing the weed.

[Anonymous]

One kid doesn't drink or do drugs at all - because he is a super fit athlete and values his fitness over a buzz. The older one occasionally has a beer but never drinks to excess. Neither touches weed, but say it's fairly common at their schools.

There is some history of addiction in the family, so beginning in early high school they got all the information about the impact of alcohol and drugs on neurological development during adolescence. And since they may have a genetic predisposition toward addiction, it would behoove them to avoid alcohol and drugs until at least their 20s. There's a strong link between age of first use and future problems with substance abuse.

So they are mindful of that and have made their decisions accordingly. Both have serious girlfriends and very active social lives. So that hasn't been a problem. I think Gen Z by and large is very health conscious. Drinking and excessive drug use seems way lower than it was during their parents generation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. My DD goes to one of the schools on Princeton Review’s “Reefer Madness” list. She’s told me she started smoking weed several months ago as there’s a dispensary not too far. I honestly don’t mind as her grades are decent and she’s involved on campus. There’s worse things she can do and it’s not like I didn’t partake while in college either.

I will never understand parents who believe that good grades are an indicator that their student is doing well emotionally.

OP here. I’m close with my children but also give them space to explore and find their way. I may be an outlier here but I do not believe marijuana usage is indicative of extreme mental health problems. She does struggle with depression and anxiety but she keeps me in the loop and has a reliable therapist. If it was a daily thing I’d be worried. It’s more social/weekend. I’d rather her get marijuana from a dispensary than a shady drug dealer with fentanyl laced drugs.

[Anonymous]

Underage drinking and using drugs is low class.

[Anonymous]

No and no. He is an athlete and fixated on fitness. He has said he may never try alcohol. He looks down on kids who do drugs. He has dated and has a solid friend group.