We cross our fingers and hope for the best. Afterwards, the more I found out about what my son and his friends were doing, the more I realised that it was people like me who were aiding and abetting the worst problems caused by drug use. The drug tsar and home secretary come out with all these sound bites and strategies, but what they will never openly debate is that the Misuse of Drugs Act has become a blunt and dangerous tool which does untold harm to both addicts and recreational drug-users. It grants the monopoly of drug supply to criminals. The use of unregulated and unsafe, illegal drugs has proliferated.
More people are in prison because of drugs, or dying, than ever before.
At the same time, more people are enjoying drugs and coming to little harm. Prohibition has been overwhelmingly unsuccessful. Drugs must be brought under reasonable, legal control. My son was caught taking his turn to get cannabis and ecstasy for his close circle of adult university friends, and he told the truth. Everyone who knows anything about recreational drug use knows that everyone who uses drugs has also got them for friends.