In 2014, my son Zac was just 16 years old when we discovered he had started using skunk cannabis—a particularly potent and dangerous strain. Like any parent, I was terrified. I felt helpless, scared, and completely out of my depth.
Zac was attending Park Langley School for Boys in Beckenham at the time. I took the difficult step of going directly to the school to explain the situation, knowing full well it would feel like I was “shopping” my own son. But I was desperate to break the cycle of drug use before things got worse.
I remember sitting across from the head teacher and being told politely but firmly that “the school doesn’t have a drug problem.” But that simply wasn’t true. According to Zac, as much as 80% of his year group were using drugs—but I had no way of proving it. And I was brushed aside.
The Isolation Parents Face in Secondary School
One of the hardest parts of this experience was how isolated I felt as a parent. In primary school, you stand at the gates and chat with other mums and dads. There’s a community. But at secondary school, that connection fades. You no longer know who your child is mixing with. You lose the support network. And when trouble arises, it can feel like you’re completely alone.
I pleaded with the school to support a PADA – Parents Against Drugs Action group, something that could create awareness and offer support for families going through the same thing. But again, I was met with resistance. I was told there was no need, and I was dismissed. It felt like a door had been shut on a cry for help.
Fast Forward to Now
Just last week, I met an incredible local woman, M, whose son was in the same year as Zac. I won’t share her story or betray her trust, but she’s facing the same issues with her son now that I went through a decade ago. The patterns haven’t changed—and in some ways, they’ve gotten worse.
This is not a story about blame. This is a story about prevention over cure.
It’s Time to Talk — And Act
If you’re a parent in Hayes (Kent), Beckenham, Bromley, or the surrounding areas and you’re experiencing mental health or drug-related challenges with your young adult—I want to talk to you. We need to come together. We need to support one another. And most importantly, we need to stop pretending this isn’t happening.
This is why we created the Hope-FX initiative—to offer creative pathways, real connection, and community to young people navigating mental health recovery. But change has to start earlier, at the root. We need a movement that starts with prevention, led by real stories, and powered by parents who care.
If you’re struggling and want to meet others in the same boat, please reach out. Let’s create a safe space for parents and carers to talk, share experiences, and make change—together.
Call to Action:
Text “J” on 07857 670241
Or visit www.hope-fx.org.uk
Together, we can stop feeling ashamed. Together, we can speak up. And together, we can build something that truly makes a difference.
