Question: "How would you tell your parents your a lesbian"?

Answer: "Talking to your parents about sexuality can be very difficult and can depend a lot on what your relationship is like with them and how comfortable you feel talking about personal issues with them. All families will react differently and so it is often hard to predict how they will respond.  Some parents will be great and very accepting and will only want you to be safe and happy. However be prepared that they may freak out otherwise you will feel really rejected and awful - it may take them some time to accept this depending on their attitudes and beliefs about sexuality. I can't really give you the words to use as only you know your parents. But here are some ideas for you to think about.

Picking a time when you can both sit down and not be disturbed or when one of you has to rush out the door is important. You may decide that it is best to talk to them separately - if you have an easier relationship with one of them, maybe your Mum then together you might talk to your Dad. You may have another relative or older friend who you could talk to about this and they may also be a support when you talk to your parents. 

Your parents may also question you - "How do you know you are a lesbian?" "Has someone forced you into this?" Be  prepared to hear them out about their fears and concerns. It will probably be hard but try to stay calm even if they get angry or upset. If it gets too difficult you may need to call for some time out in the discussion as if things get heated stuff can be said that might damage the relationship.

It will also help to get some support from a youth service (but you really need to talk to a worker who understands these types of issues) and there are some great services for young lesbian women, if you give me a rough idea of what state and area you're in (you don't need to give me your address - just a suburb) I can send you some contacts to check out. It can really help to have support outside your family and they may be able to give you some information to pass onto your parents. They can usually organise for you to see a support person who could run through ways to talk to your parents and provide you with support while you go through this process.

Remember that you are unique and your sexuality is just a special part of who you are. You are not doing anything wrong by wanting to be honest about that part of yourself. You need to feel happy and confident about yourself before talking to your parents and so that even if they freak, out you can still feel good about who you are. 

Good luck with however you decide to approach them and let me know if you need some support contacts.

NOTE: This question and answer was followed by some private one on one email correspondence between our AOD professional and the person.

Question: If low tar-cigarettes have less tar in them does this mean they are better than regular ones?

Answer: Low-tar cigarettes still reduce the blood flow through the heart. Regardless of the type of cigarettes a person smokes, all cigarettes will increase blood pressure and heart rate and cause damage to your lungs.

Question: Are the pictures on ecstasy pills just for decoration or do they mean something?

Answer:  While the pictures make the pills look fun, they can sometimes be a rough guide to what main ingredients may be in the pills. There is no accurate testing available and the ingredients will vary. Some pills will contain MDMA (or similar acting stuff) such as “brown dolphins” and “donald ducks”, while others will have a mixture of MDMA, amphetamines and ketamine (horse tranquiliser). Some pills such as “pink hearts” contain just amphetamines or just ketamine such as “white speckled WS”. There are batches which are passed off as ecstasy but actually contain paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) and have been known to cause complications and even death. There are web sites available that can provide a guide as to what might be in a pill and can at least provide warnings on dodgy batches getting around.

Question: Can using ice and speed (both drugs are types of amphetamines) make someone paranoid and aggressive?

Answer: For some people, who already experience anxiety, depression or some other mental health issues, using speed can make symptoms worse or if they have been feeling OK for a while, it can make symptoms come back.

For others who have not had a history of mental health issues they may experience what is called “speed psychosis”. This can happen when a person uses a lot and overdoses or uses regularly without having a break which can cause toxic levels in a person’s body. Speed psychosis makes people paranoid, suspicious and frightened for no real reason. Some people might hear voices or see things that aren’t really there. This can make people frightened and sometimes aggressive. It will usually go away after a couple of days but some symptoms may last for a couple of months. Using speed again might cause this to happen again.

Question: Is smoking hydro (pot) worse for your health than naturally grown pot?

Answer:  The way that pot affects everyone is different and depends on your general health, whether you have a history of mental health issues (or a history in your family), how much you smoke and how often. Indoor, hydroponically grown cannabis now dominates the Australian pot market and it has been estimated that approximately 80% of the cannabis available is hydroponically grown. There is also no quality control or regulation of how people manage their hydroponics set-ups. There still needs to be a lot more research on the long term effects of smoking hydroponically grown pot so there is not a lot of accurate information around, however there have been some concerning reports.

The concerns mainly come from the use of chemicals and growth hormone used in the water (used instead of soil) and questions as to whether growers flush their plants properly, the overall hygiene and the amount of moulds and bacteria in the water. It has been reported that sometimes dangerous amounts of chemicals are being used by novice growers in the hope of getting a bigger and stronger crop. Some reports have suggested that even chemical sprays such as Mortein have been used to treat insects and instructions as to the right and safe times to use fertilisers (it is recommended not to fertilise at least a month before harvesting) are ignored. Headaches from smoking hydro are common, and in some cases smokers have reported experiencing migraines. Other health concerns such as "Crystal Lung" have been identified. This is a respiratory tract irritation which results in crystal type deposits in the lung which are caused by the residue of the chemicals which are unable to be broken down by the body. There have also been concerns raised about the impact on people’s mental health and questions as to whether smoking hydroponic pot increases the risks of psychosis. Smokers also report a hangover type feeling and say they often feel that the “stone” wears off faster and means they seem to have to smoke more than they would if they smoked naturally grown pot. It has been suggested that some of the “stone” effect actually comes from the chemical used. All this suggests we need more research in Australia.

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