I didn't, and don't indulge in any such hypocrisy. When I discussed drugs with my kids, I told them that I had some experience in my youth, and used that as a starting point for the discussion. Seems to have worked, at least in large part.

I'm thinking this one is just around the corner for me and and my kids. I'm still thinking about it. I was a very, very occassional user of marijuana, like a dozen times or so in total. I couldn't claim to have never used them, and I couldn't use the horror stories of "once you start...." But I don't want to give the message that I condone them in any way.

I've never done a scrap of drugs, so this is too easy. The drinking talk will be a little harder, but I didn't really drink until the Marines and I was twenty when I joined, so if they get stupid about it while minors I got 'em. When I finally horrify the world with numbah jr he shall behave.

Not many parents can say they just walked out of a convent before they got married and then had kids. Most parents are humans who made mistakes and I dont think their children have the right to judge them--at least not until they are older and a bit wiser. So I wouldnt call if hypocrisy to say 'dont do something because its not good for you', but not to say you've tried it, if you are afraid your child will jump on that fact alone to disqualify your opinion.

I guess it's somewhat hypocritical to hide drug use or drinking problems but fortunately many people when they get to a certain age shed the rebellion trip and realize the things can kill you. I suppose there's a tiny, nagging element of phoniness about the whole thing, but it's just one of those things you have to do for the good of the kids. Hiding it or not hiding it is your own choice, I guess. If I was in this situation, I'd be open about it.

Don't intend to hide it. Openness is best.

I never got into drugs, although I tried pot a few times. If I had kids I would definitely tell them that I wasn't impressed with my experiences and found them unproductive.

Though I don't have children and have never experimented or used drugs, I don't understand why it would be essential to explaining why drugs are not something children should get involved with. With some kids it might actually serve as a sort of reassurance that using drugs isn't going to make anything bad happen. However, I do feel that in most cases a parent sharing his or her experience with drugs could help to create a starting point in a discussion and perhaps let the child know that your not just being a parent and doing what your supposed to be doing. It really depends on what approach you think can help your child make the right choice.

I've made a zillion poor choices in my lifetime- I spent a large portion of my 20's wasted and did little at times with the talent God gave me. Not passing the lessons life has taught me on to my child is stupid not rank hypocrisy.

Like quite a few others on this site, I have never done drugs, so there's nothing to hide. I try to tell kids at the schools I sub at that drugs are a bad idea (and thankfully, this area in Pennsylvania still seems to be relatively shielded when it comes to drugs). I can tell the kids about the evils of drinking, and after explaining in fairly graphic detail what happens when yhou get drunk, the kids seem to be convinced (at least for the moment) that it's a bad idea. Same thing about smoking - how anyone would put such a vile tasting weed in their mouth is beyond me. I smoked about 5 or 6 cigarettes in my life during high school and college, in an attempt to look cool, but I don't think I achieved looking cool, and certainly didn't enjoy the crappy taste in my mouth.

Since I have no experiences with drugs and never plan to, this will not be an issue for me! ^_^

I think it has to do with anything that as an adult you wouldn't want your child involved in whether it was drinking, drugs, sex, violence or whatever. However I feel it's best to be open with your child, with most of what they can understand. A lot of times there are bad consequences, such as friends going home drunk and getting in a bad accident and the kids can learn from this. Even if it was to effect them so that they think about a designated driver or getting a taxi home, at least they were thinking about it. EDIT: since I haven't got a helpful nor unhelpful I thought I should go into explanation as to why my system works and I know it does. My husband when he was young was involved in drugs, and not just pot. Everything he could do to screw his system up, he did it. (you probably would too, if you had to go to priest school for high school) He got arrested and thrown in jail for 2 years and on probation from everything for about 9 years I think. Trust me it wasn't pretty- I was married to him during that time, and it was a big pain in the wazoo. We decided when our kids were old enough (around 11 or 12) we would tell them and exactly what happened. you see, we do not believe that the watery wishy washy drug stuff that the schools teach kids do any good. We put a face to it... their own father's and why he is totally straight now and bla bla bla. It worked. Trust me, it worked. My kids are good kids, they admire their father for being a good, providing father and not on drugs, as many of their friend's parents still are, even when their own kids are grown and have kids of their own as well. Of course if you are going to say something like man I was so f-ed up once I did this and that, man it was awesome, no, it's not going to do them any good, you'd be a fool obviously to say something stupid like that. Most drug stories have bad endings. You must include the good and the bad. Kids will get it. They need to. Don't pretty things up, they won't see the truth.

I'm actually okay with this one even given my propensity to dabble, unless they're over 16 and it's pot we're talking about. Then I'll tell them because I would prefer them to go about it in a smart way if you know what I mean. - don't get it in the ghetto, don't do it before school, don't give up your money so somebody can go get it, etc. As for real drugs, I'll be a huge hypocrite, because you don't want them thinking these are okay things to dabble in. But when they're at a mature age, I'd tell them about those experiences as well. But I will say this, this is the 21st century, kids aren't stupid, and they know what went down in your past.

I don't have any past drug experiences to hide. I don't even drink. So, it wouldn't be hypocritical of me to tell my kid that drugs are a bad idea.

No. . .I'm not okay with it. I enjoyed experimenting with drugs at college. I'd do it again hands-down, but I'm in a different place today. I'll do what my folks did- tell the truth and mention the good and the bad times and discuss the risks. Drugs weren't that big a deal to me and I certainly don't miss them- but I don't regret the experience or knowledge. As for my kid, I won't hide much but I will emphasize the risks and disasters that happened to a few people I knew.

My Parents were staunch believers in the concept that kids do what they are told, without question or reason. They chose not to ever explain themselves or their reasoning about anything much less drugs. All the while, my fathers siblings (3 out of 4 of them) were already in and out of jail due to addictions to both alcohol and hard drugs. He could have realted his thoughts through experience and chose not to. I raise my kids much like they did but in this area I choose to be brutally honest, (against even my wifes wishes). I remember how angry/frustrated I was when my folks tried to lecture me about dope (they had suspicions when I was using in highschool, only marijuana really)because I believed that they had no way of really knowing what they were talking about. Why should I when they never related any experiences to me?! Not that you need to have direct experience to know right from wrong, but when dealing with a young teen I think it is the right way to go. They need to know that you were there, they need to know you made mistakes and now see the problems they caused both to yourself and to others. My kids know now that I used and they know it never did anything positive for me. I believe it will help them deal with those issues better when they come along. And if and when they are exposed to it and are struggling with peer pressure, they will be more inclined to come right to me and ask questions.