What's okay with me

Here are some ideas of things you might want to tell your parent if they use drugs or alcohol. You might agree with some of these ideas or you might have some better ideas of your own!

Mum/ Dad, it’s okay when you:

• Spend time with me when you have not been taking drugs/ alcohol.
• I like it when we go to the shops together/ play football in the park/ watch telly together.
• Get help from people outside the family. I know it’s hard to stay off drugs/ alcohol and I feel proud of you when you really try.
• Feel sad or worried sometimes. I do too.

It’s not okay when you:

• Make promises that you don’t keep.
• Take out your feelings on me when you have been using drugs/ alcohol. I get confused when you change from happy one moment to sad or angry the next.
• Bring people to our house that I find scary.
• Leave me to clear up after you when you have been taking drugs/ alcohol.
• Take an overdose – I worry about that a lot.