Question: At what age is it ok for children to drink energy drinks. My next door neighbor lets her kids drink redbulls all day. They are about 8 and 10 or so. Two boys. They are totally crazy all day and then every night they have these melt downs as their dad yells at them to go to sleep for like an hour. I sit out on my porch and I watch them have many cans. The parents just seem to want to watch TV and just let the kids do whatever they want to. To me this is just insane. I mentioned it sort of joking like to my neighbor and he got really offended and told me to mind my own business. I want to know if this qualifies as abuse? Kids shouldn’t be so hyper caffeinated all the time should they?

Mark Hughes Says...:

As with so many things there is no age, no amount etc that we can say is ok. Most parents will have opinions on what is appropriate, but none of us gets everything right with our children, and it isn't surprising that your neighbor might be offended by your suggestion, even though well intentioned.

I can't say there is anything "wrong" with what your neighbor is doing, not because I think it is ok to give kids red bull, but because it isn't that simple. When I talk of abuse, I usually mean something that is pretty black and white. It may well be that he doesn't realise the effect that red bull is having, and that what you see is something he could do better if he did understand this. However, you may have to accept that you can't help in this instance.

You haven't said if or how this is affecting you and why you are so concerned by it, so as well as considering your neighbors and their children, you may find it helpful to consider yourself too.

Question: I like to eat marijuana in small quantities. I find that when I make some cannabutter and then eat just a small dose a couple of times a day I feel more relaxed and less anxious and it does not seem to affect my performance at work since I am not really high, just a little mellow (I work as a dental hygienist so it would not be OK if I was obviously high or smelled like pot…lol!). I am talking about pretty small amounts, not so anyone would ever know that I am high, that I eat everyday almost like a medicine (but I have no medical reason to buy). The one thing that I am concerned about is if eating a little marijuana every day is going to affect my memory in bad ways?

Mark Hughes Says...:

I don't know if marijuana use is proven to affect memory. Clearly it helps you cope with life, and it may not affect your health significantly, but I recommend you do some research to help you understand the risks, and possibly consult your Doctor for advice.

As a counsellor I recommend you consider safe alternatives, and of course one is to work on what makes you anxious. Various kinds of therapy might help you. CBT is an increasingly popular therapy that may help if the anxiety is happens in particular suggestions. Or more relationship focussed therapies may help when it arises around people, or where an underlying issue keeps creating anxiety in one situation after another.

I'm sorry I can't answer your specific question but hope you find this helpful.