Friend is high at high school
Dear Abby: I’m a senior in high school. Every day during lunch, one of my friends goes outside and smokes weed. He comes back from lunch with red eyes, smelling of smoke, and his behaviour indicates he’s high. I saw a joint in his pocket a couple of times and he told me to keep it a secret.
Abby, this has me very uncomfortable. If he wants me to keep it a secret, he must know it’s wrong. I don’t know how to tell someone or even who I should tell. I know he has depression and weed can “take the edge off,” but that doesn’t make it OK.
What should I do? Fretting In Washington Dear Fretting: It’s surprising that none of your friend’s teachers have picked up on it.
It is not uncommon for depressed people to try to selfmedicate with illegal substances, but sometimes it makes it worse. It’s not nearly as successful as talking with a medical professional. The person to confide in would be a trusted teacher or school counsellor. Please don’t wait. Dear Abby: While volunteering last year with a moms’ group, I met a woman I’ll call “Beverly.” We worked on a project together and that was the last I saw of her.
I heard she recently lost her daughter in a terrible accident. Our group rallied around her to provide meals for her family. At that time I asked the volunteer chairwoman about taking a meal to Beverly. The chairwoman didn’t respond until a couple of weeks later. Now I’m wondering if I should still take a meal over there.
How long should a family who has suffered a loss receive meals? I want to be a comfort, but I don’t know them that well. Unsure In Georgia Dear Unsure: When a death happens, people often rush to console the grieving family. More help is offered than can be accepted in the weeks that follow and then people drift away.
It is not too late to offer Beverly and her family a home-cooked meal. Call her, make the offer, and I’m sure it will be gratefully accepted. Dear Abby is written by Jeanne Phillips, daughter of Pauline Phillips, the original Dear Abby. Write Abby at www.DearAbby.com or c/o The Ottawa Citizen, Box 5020, Ottawa, K2C 3M4. For a reply, send a self-addressed envelope. Abby covers postage. Include name and phone number if you want your letter published.