Thanks. The written evidence for the ACMD is powerful and it is great that you are now able to present it. We too are a family suffering from the effects of cannabis on our son from the age of 13. He too went to a private school which had the ideal grounds and environment to smoke daily! He is now 17 and is living in supported  accommodation as a looked after child following an assault on me in Jan 2007.Services in NI are very limited but Family Therapy has been the most effective in helping us as a family dealing with an out of control teenage only interested in drugs and alcohol. A further concern here is the para-military involvement in drugs- an added danger for young people. Thanks for all your work in bringing this into the public domain.

"My daughter hanged herself in early January, following section and sedation and by mental health services.........." Read more

"As the mother of a 19 year old who was expelled from grammar school and then another school just before his GCSEs (for smoking cannabis) who went on to study IT but who has given it up.........." Read more

"I went through college life in the early 80s with people around me smoking cannabis and seemingly okay. I tried it once but to be honest I did not like the feeling I got from it.........." Read more

"This is unbelievable, Debra, I want you to read this email with the understanding that I sympathise with your situation and want to help further your understanding, however, this whole site is full of propaganda and poorly researched scare tactics.........." Read more

"I only became aware of your website today, as it is linked to from the BBC news website which reported on the ACMD meeting today.........." Read more

"I watched Elizabeth Burton-Phillips give an interview on Breakfast News (BBC) this morning (5.2.08) and felt that I had to respond, in some way, to her courage in speaking out.........." Read more

"After seeing the group represented on a news feature lately, I decided to have a look at your website.........." Read more

"I have just written my story on your web site and cried the whole time I was writing it, but I wanted to say what a release it has been for me to put my story in words after the pain of the last few years. Also, I had not realised how many other people have suffered the same pain. unfortunately more people will unless something is done to educate not only the young but everyone on the dangers of smoking cannabis. Thank you for your web site."

" I saw the interview that you took part in on Newsnight last night. I'm sorry to here about the problems that you have had with your son. I disagree strongly with the conclusions that you draw.........." Read more

"I am 21 year old cannabis user and use on a very regular basis (DAILY), I would say I’m a heavy user, and have been since secondary school.........." Read more

"Cannabis not only affects the individual who is using - but many all around them. And for many their use continues to do harm to the next generation. Read my story and see how the affects of this substance can destroy not only the individual but others around them.........." Read more

"I am a very infrequent cannabis user. I smoke a small amount maybe once every month or so. It's very pleasurable and relaxing. I am 36 years old. I first smoked cannabis when I was 20.........." Read more

"Thank you for your supportive words! It doesn't help (or perhaps does) that I have one friend with a son 6 years older than mine who has really fallen foul of everything, and it all began in the same way, and indeed another friend with a son nearly as old as myself who is still struggling to act responsibly having sacrificed a lovely wife, child etc etc. Its very easy for me to see the way things are going, despite the all too convincing arguments that are put forward 'in favour' of cannabis use."

"Regarding the legalisation issue put forward by people like Steve Rolles: never in human history have laws or taboos against drug use been dropped without
more use and more TOTAL harm. Plainly criminals would trade in drugs after legalisation even more than before. Legalisation is a dead issue: it is not on the agenda in the UK."

"Hi Debra
I am closely following everything you are doing and am in full support of your tireless campaigning. On a personal note, my son is 23 tomorrow and his life is an absolute disaster. He doesn't even answer my calls anymore. I am hurting so much inside that the beautiful baby boy I gave birth to 23 years ago tomorrow should have his life so completely and needlessly destroyed by the mental and depressive side effects of this so called 'harmless/recreational' drug. Keep up the good work on behalf of all us mothers who are experiencing similar devastation in our lives."

"I feel sorry for you Debra. I have a friend who thought it useful to campaign against the woods after their relative died in a weather related tree accident. Finding something to blame makes it easier for us to cope with the unexplained loss of a loved one.........." Read more

"Not trying to be a wise guy, just saying. How can you blame a drug for how people use and abuse it? You don’t blame a wife for wife abuse, so why blame a drug for drug abuse?........." Read more

"My son is currently 25 - at 14 he started smoking skunk and deteriorated rapidly. I phoned every support group in the country to try to get help.........." Read more

"Just heard you on 5 Live. My son smoked skunk as a teenager, was a teenager from hell for a couple of years, he took his gcses early then dropped out of education at 14. His first psychosis bout came, like the proverbial bolt from the blue, when he was 17 and a half........." Read more

"I want to express my thanks to Debra for sharing her story with others. I believe that your story has no doubt provided support to other families undergoing similar issues and I hope that this will be well received......." Read more

"Hi This is an update to my previous story about my son Scott who has just turned 21.........." Read more

"My heart is broken and my soul destroyed. The day my son strangled me, kicked me, bit me until I bled, spat at me, slapped me and called me every obscenity.........." Read more

"My son is cannabis free at the moment, that will be 10 months. He lives in Australia with his now girlfriend, he never had a girlfriend, job, life? when he was using drugs. I am delighted he is happy but miss him so much, we are in touch all the time and are best friends. I consider myself very lucky to have got through this with him being cannabis free. The old days were dreadful and my heart goes out to anyone in a similar situation. I keep up with what you are doing and I think you are great. Thank you."

"I have just read your article in the Evening Standard tonight and it has sent chills down my spine. Our son was also at Dulwich College and was also introduced to drugs there.........." Read more

"As a parent with children at Dulwich College and Alleyns, I read your double page spread article in the Evening Standard with interest. The major thrust of it appears to somehow try and shift the blame for your son's drug-taking from him, from you his parents - to the school he has long since left.........." Read more

"Hi, I heard about this website through the story in the Standard. I was moved by the problems further illuminated but not the standard of journalism. Having had a cursory look around the site I was saddened by the cherry picking of scientific 'facts’.........." Read more

"My son aged 17 was introduced to drugs at Dulwich College. He now regularly smokes dope, thinking it is pleasant and enjoyable. My son is gradually being lost to us. He does not chose to acknowledge the risks that he is taking, which he can do only when clean. Those days are getting fewer. The only way for us to control his usage is keeping money away from him. We lock away our purses and wallets. Luckily he has not stolen any household articles. he says he will not do that, and we would like to believe him. We clearly do not know as trust is one of the first things to go."

"Our son started smoking cannabis as a teenager, we discovered this when an ex-girlfriend told me, we spoke to him about it, he said all the right things so we thought the problem was solved.........." Read more

"I hope you all are keeping well, you said please share your experiences but if you look at yours you will see mine.........." Read more

"I was given a copy of your evening standard article April 08 by a colleague of my husband's who knew we had two sons at Dulwich College and another son who is an addict of class A drugs.........." Read more

"Listening to Debra on radio 2 made me realise that she could have been talking about my son.........." Read more

"I have just listened to Debra Bell on Radio 2 this morning and have lived through a very similar experience.........." Read more

"It has been 4 years of hell for our family. Our eldest son started smoking skunk at about the age of 15. Within a year, he had his first psychotic episode.........." Read more

"I have a beautiful, charming talented son who could charm the pigeons from the trees and sell ice to Eskimos. Then when he was about 14 he began to smoke cannabis with friends from school.........."Read more

"I am sure you are getting a lot of reaction as a result of your radio interview yesterday on the Jeremy Vine show.........." Read more

"I write this as a mother, from the other side of the world, who has two children, one a young teen, the other late 20s.......... " Read more

"Our son Max is now 19 and coming to the end of a music course. He was turned down for 6th form by his school due to behavioural problems.........." Read more

"Dear Debra,
Congratulations on TAC achieving what it set out to do, persuading the Govt to reclassify cannabis. It has been a lot of slog for you and comes at such a high price but if reclassification prevents other young people from falling prey to cannabis and the harmful effects to them and their family, then it would have been very worth while.
Kim"

"I strongly support your course and wish the government can listen to many of your concerns. Many lives have been destroyed by this dependence and the side effects associated with it."

"My son took cannabis for 4 years. It was hard on me and my husband and his sister it was like living with different person .But last Christmas he gave it up because he would lose his job he likes. Its been very hard for him .he has good days and bad but he getting through it .And he is doing it on his own. But he knows we are there if needs our help. My family is beginning to get back to some kind of normal instead of living in hell.

"Ok I may as well say it straight up i am a cannabis user and could you please read on and give me the time of day before dismissing me as a useless wasteful drug addict.......... " Read more

"I've smoked cannabis for years with no ill effects. I have a lot of friends who also smoke, with no ill effects either. I realise its not a completely safe substance and i would go as far as to say, I think its an unhealthy habit...." Read more

"Our son died in February 2006.This is the date that Ethan's cannabis habit stole his soul.........." Read more

"I really don't know where to start! ........." Read more

"My son was 14 when he had his first joint at the church youth club, the vicar brought him home.........." Read more

"My son Jason was 32 in July, he is my only surviving child, he is an avid cannabis, skunk user.........." Read more

"My son is just 16 and because of his violent and disrespectful behaviour I've had to make him leave home.........." Read more

"My son is 28 now. He started smoking cannabis around 15/16.........." Read more

"I'm 23 years old and trying to stop smoking. People laugh if you tell them your addicted to cannabis. It used to calm me down and make me feel good. Now all it does is make me feel jittery and very uncomfortable but still I can only last a week or so without it. I've become very paranoid and I think I'm developing social phobia. I also think it has made me more aggressive. It has really fuck'd my life up as I cant hold down a proper job or a steady relationship. I have just lost my girlfriend because i am too insecure. However I know ill beat it but it worries me to think of the lasting effects of years of abuse and how long it will take to build myself back up"

"I saw the article in the "you" magazine 14 Sept 08, and my heart went out to all the sufferers because of this evil drug.........." Read more

"I moved house 6 months ago, I did it with the help of my brothers whilst my 18 year old son was out. I didnt tell him I was going.........." Read more

"I am a former or recovering marijuana addict, I consider myself an addict as I had to smoke at least an eighth of really strong weed a day.........." Read more

"I'm writing to you about my son. He was a lovely young lad - happy no problems. Then he went to uni at 19. He never came home when term had finished but his dad and me never thought it was because of cannabis but we found out much later it was.........." Read more

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