Dad divides opinion by taking his son to see people with drink and drug addictions living on the streets

A dad has divided opinions online after explaining how he took his son to visit homeless people with alcohol and drug addictions.

The dad took to Reddit to ask for other people's opinions after explaining his son's mother wasn't happy about his decision.

"I have a 15-year-old son named Gavin," the dad began.

"I used to be a heroin addict and lived on the streets. When my son was five I got sober and have been clean since. Recently Gavin got caught smoking weed and drinking.

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"He knows that I’m disappointed in him and that he is too young to be drinking and smoking.

"Every once in a while I walk the streets and help the people I used to use with. I offer them resources, give them food, etc. My wife doesn’t like this but she knows it’s important to me."

The dad explained that on Boxing Day, he decided to take his son with him, but his mum was not impressed.

"On Boxing Day, I took Gavin with me to meet some of the people on the streets. I made him watch how they lived and how they interacted with me. I could tell it really shook him, which was my goal so he could see what addiction is really like," he wrote.

"When I told his mom, she was upset with me and said I put him at risk but honestly I think it’s good for him to get out there and see what I went through and what he will also if he doesn’t clean his act up in the future."

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People on Reddit were divided over what happened. While some felt the dad had done the right thing, others weren't so sure.

One person wrote: "It will probably do more good than any talk will. You were with him, and you know the people and the area. It's best to use what you know from experience to try and get him on the right track before he starts experimenting with harder things."

While another said: "You know what's at stake because you lived it and you help those still living it. He needed to see it."

However a third added: "Soft YTA for not clearing it with your wife first. You're in a partnership not a dictatorship."

And a fourth commented: "So have a conversation about why he’s too young to be getting into weed and alcohol?

Don’t try to scare him by lying to him about how doing it is going to turn him into a heroin addict."

What do you think?

Topics: Life, Parenting

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot.

@lucedevine