irresponsibility
 

a 'monitor' at a high school in the US was alerted to the school cafeteria after a 5 year old boy was found to be sprinkling marijuana on a pupils lasagna.

an investigation is underway as to how the boy obtained the substance, although it was noted the boy may have thought it was oregano......

in another case, a 4 year old took cocaine in to school to show fellow pupils claiming it was flour the estimated value was $10,000

source: cnn.com

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/03/....ap/index.html

so, are the parents to blame ease of accessabilty to drugs to youngsters, or active encouragement to lead a life of drugs ?

Re: irresponsibility
 

Absolutely. Parents should be held accountable for the actions of their minors.

Re: irresponsibility
 

I blame the Teachers

Re: irresponsibility
 

How can parents be help responible though.... If they so much as even shout at there kids they can be hauled into court...

The problem is lack of discipline !

Re: irresponsibility
 

Agreed - to a point.

If the parents are using cannabis or cocaine for their own personal use (and I have no objection to this) they must ensure it is kept out of the reach of their children.

Re: irresponsibility
 

I'd be more likely to believe there are five year old stoners out there than five year olds who know how to use oregano properly...

Re: irresponsibility
 

I'm afraid I have a very serious objection to it. Parents using this stuff teaches kids that the Law is optional, no matter which locked cupboard they keep it in. Go and campaign for liberalised drug laws if you want, but teaching children they can disregard any rule they disagree with is deeply irresponsible.

Re: irresponsibility
 

I am not suggesting that parents use these substances in front of or around
their children. Nor am I campaigning for anything I was just expressing my personal point of view.

The new generation of parents have grown up surrounded by "recreational" drugs. I not talking about about hardened heroin users or crack heads here but it is fact that every Friday and Saturday literally millions of people in there teens/twenties/thirties using ecstacy/Cannabis/cocaine.

And there are two choices for those of this group that are parents. Either stop using it - Preferable but unlikely.

Or if you want to continue using it ensure that you do it away from the children and keep the substances away from the children.

This is no different to
1) keeping the drinks cabinet locked
2) keeping the medicine cabinet locked
3) not smoking in front of kids.

Re: irresponsibility
 

a drug is a drug, its not acceptable for me to see people smoke cannabis or marijuana, even if the argument is either of them provide pain relief its still a drug.

and yes i do believe if you are a drug addict you deserve to have your kids taken from you, drug addicts will proberbly still never learn, as long as they get there 'hit'

Re: irresponsibility
 

You obviously have never known anyone with dibilatating, crippling diseases such as MS then.... You'd have a different view if you did. :(

Re: irresponsibility
 

Caffeine is a drug. Do you drink tea or coffee and eat chocolate?

Re: irresponsibility
 

Or take paracetamol?

Re: irresponsibility
 

i was thinking more that chocolate is eaten for pleasure as is drinking tea and coffee

Re: irresponsibility
 

None of which happens in any house I have ever been to.

Re: irresponsibility
 

I understand where you're coming from. Sometimes a zero tolerance stance is a good one to take.

In my opinion though, not in this case. There are many drugs available out there - Some legal and some illegal.

who is putting the child at risk more, the weekend clubber who takes ecstacy for the evening and dances the night away, goes home and gets on with their life normally.

Or the parent that constantly smokes around their children?

I'm afraid that making a drug legal or illegal doesn't make it any better or worse for you.

Just because some drugs are socially acceptable and some aren't doesn't mean that being exposed to them at young age is ok or not.

How many of us were given shandy to drink by our parents!!! but no-one called them bad parents.

How many of us (I did) tried cigarettes at a young age because they were easy to get hold of.

As long as ALL drugs are kept out of the way of children then I don't think there is a problem. I am talking about "recreational drugs". Heroin/Crack is a different kettle of worms IMO.