In recent years, a national discussion has emerged concerning what parents should tell their children about their own past drug use. Successful, well-adjusted parenting men who occasionally use (not abuse) illicit drugs constitute a special, and typically hidden population that has not received attention by researchers. How, given today's "War on Drugs" approach to incarcerating drug users, do these parents talk to their children about drugs? Can these parents be honest, risking possible arrest and loss of parental rights, as schools, police, etc. actively encourage kids to report their parents' use of drugs? DRUGNET is an ongoing, on-line survey of successful, healthy, adults who occasionally use illicit drugs. The survey has four sections: 1) demographic and lifestyle indices, 2) experiences with drugs, 3) past legal history and attitudes about drug issues, and 4) the General Well-being Schedule (a self-perception measure of well-being and distress). This paper reviews data from a subset of this survey, namely those respondents who were parents with self-reported use of at least one drug. The sample (n=325) was predominantly white males who reported having above average education and household incomes. Their mental health as measured by the General Well-being schedule was similar to the national norm. Respondents reported using drugs to manage parental stress and expressed concerns over how to communicate with their children and legal risks to their own drug use. The limitations and implications of these data are discussed.
Learning Objectives: Need to enter learning objectives
Keywords: Drug Use, Adult and Child Mental Health
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