Coleen says

HE DOES sound obnoxious and controlling and clearly thinks he’s a bit of a comedian, too.

What worries me is the fact she can’t go to the loo on her own. She comes across as quite naive and vulnerable, and perhaps she does believe this is normal behaviour when you’re in a relationship.

The trouble is, she’s newly married and in love, and wants to spend all her time with him, so she’ll be blind to these signs you’ve picked up on. But it doesn’t mean that you have to put up with this guy and his rudeness.

The way to approach it is to say to her, “I love you, you’re an incredible friend and I’ll always be here for you but I’d rather not be in his company.”

If she values your friendship, it’s up to her to assert herself if he says she can’t see friends on her own.

IN RESPONSE to the letter “My brother’s hooked on coke” (Dear Coleen, March 6), I had a serious 10-year cocaine habit like that young lad.

It’s not clear whether he drinks alcohol with cocaine – this is more dangerous and produces a new substance called cocaethylene.

This was my problem and I stopped drinking as it was a major trigger to use more cocaine.

It’s hard to give up but not impossible. I would suggest education involving group work, which focuses on behaviour patterns as opposed to the dangers.

There is a programme called RAMP, run by ex-addicts, and it was my first move in a bid to kick the habit. Stuart, via email