I was at the ortho/dentist with my son today and I was in the waiting room while they were adjusting his braces. This father and son come in. I think the child was around 7, maybe 8. He was so excited to go back with the dental student. First thing he said is "I want laughing gas". He happily went back to the room. His dad laughed and told all of us waiting people that he loves laughing gas and told his dad he sees all kinds of pretty colors when he closes his eyes. Everyone was laughing but I was thinking this kids going to end up on drugs for sure!!!!!! My 17 yr old thinks so too! I don't think I'd like my young child thinking that stuff is fun.

None of the children's dentists in our town do laughing gas that I know of. They also won't put the child to sleep for fillings, etc. I know because a mom on a chat board I am on was looking specifically for one that did and couldn't find one. I know *ours* doesn't for sure. Our regular (adult) dentist doesn't use it either and none of the previous ones I have been to do either. So I guess I thought that practice wasn't happening anymore. I wouldn't want my child thinking laughing gas is fun but then again I don't want my kids to think sucking helium from balloons to talk funny is fun either. I know a kid who ended up with brain damage was sucking up too much helium (at least that is what the doctors claim as he was fine before he started on helium). He would rent those helium machines at the party stores and get high

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm with you guys. Not so "cute" for junior to be encouraged to go enjoy the laughing gas...

I didn't realize that it was being discontinued, though. Good move!

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I love laughing gas. I always use it when I go to the Dentist. My insurance doesn't cover it but I still want it. I am cheap most of the time but I will gladly pay($20) for the nitrous oxide. My childrens dentist charges $60 and wants them to have it. I'm not sure we have a choice. Since I use it I like that my kids can have it, but think he charges way too much. My kids are very good at the dentist, but I'm sure it really helps with kids that are very scared. I think that if you are seeing colors with the laughing gas then they have it up too high. I would not go to a dentist that didn't have it.

I think that's horrible! I agree with you guys. Dad doesn't realize that he is setting up that poor little boy for future drug addiction. I wonder if he would think it would still be so "cute" if somebody just took him home and got him high?

I have to say this, I might get flamed for it. . .but here goes. All of my years of teaching, I only saw two students that really benefitted from taking meds for ADHD. They were not students that had behavior problems. . .they just really were unable to focus. They were space cases. . .just not able to focus on anything long enough to actually learn. In those two cases the meds really did help them be able to keep their attention. They really blossomed on the meds. HOWEVER I think 99% of the time these meds are given to kids with behavior problems and not really learning problems. I would hear teachers in the staff lounge saying that lil Billy needs meds because he is out of control. I always thought in my head, "No he doesn't! You need to try harder to motivate him to learn and behave. Any kid would be easy if he was high." I couldn't help but thinking that some. . .big some there. . .teachers would be thrilled if all the kids were put in a big room and allowed to smoke weed before school.

My nephew is on ADHD meds. His mom is a nurse and thinks meds are the answer to everything! He's not a dumb kid. . .just a typical boy and they sent him to school too early. He is 2 years younger than some of the kids in his class. Of course he is going to be behind! The meds make him VERY lethargic. And he is just spoiled. His mom does his homework for him and he is 13 for God's sake!

I have seen waaaaay too many kids that blame their poor behavior on not having taken their meds. I always told them the same thing. "You are still responsible for your behavior. Nobody controls that but you." They always knew I was right and the game was up. I didn't have many behavior problems, because I made kids tow the line.

I guess the moral is. . .that I am not against all meds. If you truly need them then take them. . if you have a raging infection then antibiotics are a good thing. .. BUT if you are using them as a crutch or a form of entertainment. . .then grow up!

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I understand what you are saying. There have been times I have gone with the gas and been thankfull for it. As adults we can judge. BUT I think it is unfair to project that on our kids. Growing up I had a great dentist. I remember very few times even getting novacaine. Sometimes things were uncomfortable but I learned coping skills. I think that's why I don't have any problems going to the dentist as an adult. As I have said before, want and need are two different things. I think one of the best things we can teach our kids is the difference. Learning to "cope" is an invaluable lesson; one that I sadly think our generation has lost.

Btw. . .you could get your kids the same results on the streets for way less then $60.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Well when I was growing up we never had novacaine or anything and they used those slow speed drills. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!!!!! The only time I got novacaine was when I had a tooth pulled. It wasn't until I was an adult that I got it regularly. And it tooks years and years to not have a panic attack about going to the dentist and another one in the chair! I started the laughing gas for my wisdom teeth extraction but I started feeling kind of dizzy and since my life has been plagued by dizzy spells I stopped it and went to novacaine.
I agree that our children need to learn more/better coping skills.

Yep! We never even got novacaine as kids. I think you do your kids a service teaching them coping skills. Life is not an easy thing. . .better they learn that sooner then later.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I've gotta admit.... this is a first for me.

I grew up going to two or three different dentists through the years and I can't think of a single time when I didn't have the gas. I loved the gas and I never spent a moment dwelling on what was happening with the drill. I remember one time being in the chair and having an awareness that the gas was up too high, and taking the mask off for a bit and then telling the dentist (when he returned from washing his hands around the corner) that it just wasn't right. He turned it down and all was fine.

I don't think there is any correlation between kids who turn to drugs and kids who are given noxious oxide at the dentists office to help manage pain. I think a child who is on track to take drugs because his or her family does not have a value system that... well, I just don't think the noxious oxide is going to make a kid who wasn't already extremely likely to turn to drugs do so.

I just googled: "drug use" "noxious oxide" kids

I got TWO results.

I just appreciated living in twilight while they drilled into my teeth. I can cope fine, don't have meltdowns at the sight of large needles, and am the least squeamish person I know....

But hey, if there is pain *and* there is something not only painless but pleasurable that I can do to *omit* pain, why not?

Please. I once had someone tell me that letting a child use a sit 'n spin would encourage them to like the feeling of being drunk. My kids get the nitrous oxide, as do I. I had a horrible experience at the dentist when I was a child and it's left me with a life-long fear of dental work. Just the thought of it makes me sweat, and I avoid it at all costs. No way, no how am I going to expect a 6 year old to 'cope' through an hour's worth of dental work.

We have quite a few alcoholics and drug users in my family, and not one of them had nitrous oxide as children. But you might want to prevent your kids from spinning around till they get so dizzy they fall down...one minute it's that the next minute it's a bottle of johnny walker in a paper bag. Dizziness is a gateway drug dontcha know.

Maureen

Ya know, Mo, you do have a point. Sort of.

I remember liking that 'la la land' feeling and I *wouldn't* have turned to drugs. It just wasn't in my psyche and wasn't part of my environment (the drug scene) and drugs were just something that were taboo in my mind. Completely.

But... I liked that spacey feeling and would have possibly done things that *didn't* seem like letting my conscience step a toe over the line. I remember doing stupid things like holding my fingers against my jugular sitting there in the middle of class, and things going just a litttttle bit shifty, visually. I really liked to hang backwards off the side of my grandma's rocking chair that rotated around, and I'd use my foot to spin spin spin spin myself until I got extremely dizzy and then I'd try to stand up and walk. I would never have taken a *drug* because that was *wrong*, but I thought nothing of creating a self-induced trip to lala.

Looking back, that was stupid and probably dangerous.

And none of it had anything to do with laughing gas.

Coping skills for pain that can be prevented? I would never do that to my kids on purpose. That would be the way to make a child scared of the dentist for life. Even with nitrous oxide the Dr. still uses novacaine. It doesn't stop the pain, it only calms them down.

Just curious...how many of you had epidurals or other drugs during childbirth? Or did you just 'cope' with the pain?

I've had three babies, the smallest 9lb 13oz and the biggest 11lb 3oz, with no drugs. In the throes of my toughest delivery (the smallest one) the midwife asked me how I was feeling and I said 'it beats a day at the dentist'. I could head into a delivery without a care in the world, but a dentist appointment has me in cold sweats for a week. I want my kids to have positive feelings about the dentist, and I do that by paying extra for a pediatric dentist and springing for the nitrous oxide. Sure as heck beats the 'little shop of horrors' hack I went to as a kid.

Maureen

Maureen - Sorry about your bad experience with the dentist. I feel your pain! I really do. It was a major ordeal for me to go to the dentist too. Those nasty childhood experiences can stay with you for a very long time, if not a lifetime. My dentist appreciates that I am on Zoloft now and can actually relax in the chair. I think I used to drive him crazy because I would grip that armchair and sweat and look like a deer caught in the headlights, etc... And I've been his patient almost 30 years now! Thank you God for Zoloft! And no, I didn't have pain meds for childbirth. I just made this post because I couldn't believe how excited that little boy was to go in there-he seemed way too happy to be getting laughing gas and having dental work. It may never affect him but it really seemed way over the top. I will remember the look on his face for a long time. His smile was like he was going to Disneyland!!!!

There is no way I would expect my child or any other child to cope with dealing with a dentisT appointment and made to suffer. Now I am not saying that there are drugs out there that are given out so freely and unneccessary. However I was given laughing gas all the time much would have liked that then those horrible painful needles. Its a small wonder so many millions of people are so afarid of the dentist..For my own children when they were younger and my youngest one laughing gas is the preferred method. It is so easier to point a finger and say learn to cope unless you have been in those person's shoes.. I was so angry when the actor Tom Cruise critizied Brooke Shields for taken medication to deal with her after birth problems... Also there are so many children whom should be on medication to help them function with everyday in their school . I am not saying to just medicate them to the point where they do not know what they are doing. Just to give them some medication to put them on a even level so they can learn and deal with school... Last year we had a boy in our class, he truly truly needed to be on something, no matter how hard we alll worked in the school to help him, he was so violent , could not stay still, could not focus at all. He refused to listen to anything or anyone. However the mom who did not speak English refused to believe there was anything wrong with her son.. Finally after months of intense discussions with the school physiologist the mom realized her son needed some help.. Now this year things are so much better for him. He is smiling, he is working hard to catch up with his education, he is totally focused on his everyday activities. There is no more coercion on our parts to make this child's behaviour better..So if sometimes medication is needed to cope then so be.If a person can deal with issues or problems with everyday life occurances and not take any form of medication, then thats a blessing.. Peace. Catherine

I find this a silly conclusion to jump to. What about kids who got a lot of sinus stuff, do you believe they are more likely to use speed or alcohol? I guess kids who have surgery shouldn't get pain meds?

My kids never needed fillings when they were little, so this wasn't a decision we ever had to make. I would have been worried about it killing them, but certainly not about it making them "soft" or more likely to abuse drugs later in life.

When I saw a child spin until dizzy for the first time, I immediately understood why some teens like drugs and alcohol. All the same feelings with none of the embarrassment of spining around Should their parents have stopped them from this apparent drug habit forming behavior?

I don't think the OP's original problem with what transpired was actually whether or not nitrous oxide (or anything else) is administered to kids during a painful dental procedure.

The problem was, as I read in Kathy's original post, when Dad started proudly glorifying the fact that his kid was loving the high from the medication. What kind of message is that to send to your own kid? The parent was at fault, IMHO - not the doctor.

How was that parent NOT promoting recreational drug use for his kid with his ridiculous talk in the waiting room????

I was always scared of the laughing gas. When I came out of it, the dentist always told me what I riot I had been. That was a creepy thing to say to a kid, who had no idea what had transpired. I'm all in favor of any replacement to the laughing gas route, as long as kids are able to cope with the procedure without any pain (obviously -- isn't that what we all want?).

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Exactly!!! I didn't mean to open up a big discussion about pain, coping skills, etc... I was just concerned about the kids excitement and the dad thinking his enjoyment of seeing all those pretty colors was funny. The kid reminded me of a teenager going to a keg party he looked so happy! And he was only 7 or 8 at the most. And Catherine-I'm not telling anyone what they can and can't do with their kids. I also was extremely upset with Tom Cruise's arrogant attitude concerning medication.

Life is not easy, nor is fair all the time, but I'll be damned if I allow my children to suffer a preventable physical pain while they are very young.

Hey, my youngest had kidney stones (at 7 y/o) last Thanksgiving. I guess I should have just let him COPE with the pain of passing those stones. Oh, and he broke his arm the year prior to that--I guess I should have just let him writhe in pain after the Dr. set the fracture and casted the arm.

I swear to God! I think some of you people are just freaking nuttier than squirrel poo!
Oh, and having sat through numerous pain managment seminars I can tell you that you cannot "teach" coping skills to ANYONE who is scared to death or is already suffering from physical pain. You have to get a handle on the physical aspect of the pain, before you can address "coping" skills.

Some of you are just twisted individuals.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

kathytheshopper, Kathy I was not referring to you at all, I should have mentioned that it was Hambirg, who believes in a coping mechanism to deal with pain..So if I came across as such I am sorry it was not mean't for you at all. Personally by this point most people here know I take paxil everyday and xanax as needed for my panic attacks and I also take imitrex for my migranes and anyone out there whom has not experienced the horrific pain a migrane can bring, they should never speak. Catherine..

Hambirg made that statement she experienced no behavior problems because she said she made the kids tow in line.. Easy said the done.. From working with 5 and 6 years old again easier said then done, How Hambirg did you manage to make them tow in line can you kindly share exactly how you achieved this feat, unless you totally blew fear into their faces... Catherine

Catherine-I took Paxil once and it's extremely difficult to withdraw from. If you go off it do it very, very slowly.

I don't think hambirg said you need to "cope" with pain all the time without meds. I think she is just sick of people running to the drugstore for every little thing. I agree with that. I think people are getting a little bit over the top coming down on her. Unfortunately It is an instant gratification society. I'm fine with parents making the decisions on pain meds for their kids. However, what I witnessed was out of the ball park!

I'm not talking about the pain medication. . .that would be the novacaine. I'm talking about getting kids high at the dentist to the point that they are really enjoying it like in the original post. It's not necessary. I'm all for necessary pain relief. I don't think all kids need gas in order to go to the dentist. My kids don't like shots. . .they don't get gas at the doctors before they get a shot. I don't like paying bills. . .should I get gas before I sit down to pay bills? I'm just saying that setting this kid up for enjoying the high is not a good thing. Anybody that has smoked weed knows that getting gas has basically the same results. If you have serious anxiety about the dentist then fine, but if you are just there to enjoy the high then I think that is wrong. Especially in the case of a child. Let alone this Dad's attitude about the whole thing stinks! Like I said. . .how would he feel about saving the $ for the gas and letting the kid take a few bong hits or a couple of shots before going? The effect is the same. Is that still okie dokie?

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Again, I'm not talking about pain management here. I was adressing this kids enjoyment of getting high and it being thought of as cute by the father. I don't think it's cute. I'm sure when your child was going through what they were they went through some uncomfortable things. . .blood draws, etc. Were you giving them something to cope? Alcohol? Weed? Was that child so excited about going through this because then they could get some mind altering high? That sounds like what was happening in the original case.

Btw. . .I'm sorry about the kidney stones. I've been through that and it's horrible. I can't imagine a child having to go through that. With me, by the time I was seen in the ER the worst of it was over and I had passed the stone. I was doing Lamaze the whole time up until that. . .lol! I'm glad I at least had learned that to cope with the pain.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Ugghhh....my ds needs some dental work done and we're hoping we can get away with just Novocaine. Not because he needs to "learn to cope" but because he's had very extreme/atypical reactions to medications before. He's had several surgeries and had to be sedated for some tests, so far...

Benzo's made him violent
Opiates make him hallucinate (not dangerous, but not normal)
Barbiturates severely depressed his breathing.
The first time he was under general anesthetic we were told he would either be awake when he came out of recovery or wake up within 15-30 mins. He didn't, 7 hours later Nuero was still running tests on him.
The second time he woke up with fluid in his lungs from the intubation tube. (not really due directly to the anesthetic, but still unpleasant.)

So while I know that N2O is a very safe drug in comparison, because of his unusual reactions I'm not willing to test it out in a dentists office.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

If ignorance is bliss you are one happy-ass person, aren't you?

Since I've never smoked weed, I would not know if it's the same as getting a little "laughing gas"--however, I do know that the effects of laughing gas generally only last 1-5 minutes AFTER a person stops breathing the gas. How long does marijuana last?
Furthermore, N2O is actually an analgesic and when mixed with oxygen is an anesthetic(and can be used in labor), hence it actually is a pain killer/pain med.

I can say this, both of my kids have had "laughing gas" with NO pain meds for the minimal dental work they've had done. Thus, they have little to no fear of going to the dentist. I, on the other hand, was subjected to a dentist who 1) didn't use N2O, 2) didn't think braces were all they were cracked up to be--he believed in just pulling a few permanent teeth. I still have vivid memories of getting those flipping novocaine shots..."feel a little pinch"? Felt more like he was pulling the teeth w/ needle nosed pliers! And I had 7 permanent teeth pulled just to keep from having braces (God love my parents for following this Dr's advice).
If breathing a little gas keeps my kids from experiencing that kind of thing---I don't give a rip if they might actually enjoy the experience of breathing a little laughing gas!

Just so you know, N2O IS a pain medication.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

It was actually pretty simple. I made them know that without a shadow of a doubt that I was holding them responsible for their behavior. They knew very well that I loved them unconditionally. . .a lot of my students would call me Mom. ..lol! And I used the "I'm disappointed in your behavior" thing. I think it is universal in children and people, for that matter, to want to please the people they love and that love them. It worked very well for me. I would never use fear. I've seen too many teachers that do. . .and I think it's just sad. The teacher I student taught with did that. It was disgusting. Her students hated her and what kind of adult would stand over a child like that? Yuck! I know some kids are more difficult than others. But I have found blatant honesty and genuine caring will cut through that. Kids know when you are truly looking out for their best interest. They are not stupid that way. To them it was Mrs H. loves me and shows that every day. . .I better take her seriously when she tells me something, because I know she is telling the truth and only wants what is best for me.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Well, as somebody that has in the past, yes, it's the same. As far as how long the high lasts, I think that is irrelevent. Huffing and blackout are just as short lived as gas. So?

And just so you know. . .alcohol and weed are also pain killers! It doesn't mean that I think my kids need them to go to the dentist. Use a localized pain medication. . .that's enough. I'm sorry you had horrible dentist experiences as a child, but that doesn't mean you should project that on everybody else.

And back to the original OP's post. Yeah, the dad is encouraging his kid's enjoyment of getting high.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

The same... really? Like how?

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

The high is the same. The feeling is the same. How you feel is the same way you feel after smoking weed.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I'm sorry. We went through this with my son too. It took him waaaay longer to come out than it was suppose to. That was sooo stressful! Hopefully he won't have to have general and you won't have to go through that. Be sure "they" know your concerns beforehand. My Mom always has adverse reactions to general too. She tells them, but it seems like they just go. . .yeah yeah. . .and then get all up in arms about her reactions.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Hambirg I agree with you that some children may respond to your methods and if it works then truly wonderful, however you have to admit that there are some children who sadly do need some form of medication in order to maintain their normal every day life occurances. I also agree life today is very difficult and to just give a child medication to sedate them or make them feel sleepy is not good either.. However like you mentioned I am totally aganist any form of yelling or screaming at a child that I have been given the opportunity to work with , because it if was one of my own children and they were yelled or screamed at I would not like it at all. Personally even though we do call our students by their names I have a habit when they are asking me a question , what sweetie or what honey buts thats me > I thank you for explaining things to me it put a different light into the subject matter at hand.If I was harsh it was only when I read what you quoted at keeping the child in tow and I have personally witnessed to many teachers and other paraprofessionals at my job do just that. For me we are the adults and as adults should act as adults and realize that these children some of them cannot help themselves. Ok back to the op I am also againist a father who was trilled at his child receiving laughing gas that should never be encouraged at all. Again if pain medicine is needed then it is needed plain and simple.. Catherine

You're the first person I've ever heard compare the two as similar.

It's been quite awhile, but for me....
N2O: Floaty limbs and that metal clang that seems to reverberate everywhere.
Weed: Anxious and twitchy followed by tired and hungry.

To me, they're only the same in that neither were particularly enjoyable.

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

As someone who always got gassed as a kid at the dentist and never even considered smoking marijuana, I guess I'm having trouble with the whole comparision between the two.

Maybe I'm just a natural compartmentalizer or something, but when something was given to me by a Dr., regardless of how it made me feel, I considered it *acceptable*. It was legal, it was helpful, and it was recommended by someone knowledgable who was trying to make me feel better.

If someone approached me and wanted me to purchase an illegal substance with an efficacy that was not really known at the risk of jail time all so I could have a feeling similar to the one the physician elicited using *his* substance... I'd have kicked him in the shins and headed for home.

When I ride a go-kart I floor it. I rode go-karts before I drove real cars. It never occured to me to transfer my love of flooring it to the open highway.

Exactly. I would never allow my kids to experience unnecessary pain simply to "toughen them up" for "life".

I have awful memories of painful dental experiences as a child that have caused me lots of anxiety re dental visits as an adult. I would never do that to my kids.

*sigh* alcohol and THC are not pain killers. Although THC does have some probable medical benefits (most notably reducing pressure in glaucoma patients, and combatting nausea).
*sigh* the effects of huffing and blackout are NOT just as short-lived as N2O. Both of huffing and blackout kills brain cells INSTANTLY, N2O does not (and that's just for starters on how they are different).
*sigh* I did not have a horrible experience, but I do remember how much the novocaine shots hurt. I do not and have not projected anything on my children--but thanks for the psychoanalysis.

You really and truly need to further educate yourself on drugs and drug culture. You seem to know very little. Oh, and I would suggest--if you want to continue to argue this--that you do some research on pain control and management.

I have yet to see any young child beg to go to the dentist so they can get "high".

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

I had fillings done without novacaine as a child and I think you have to be one sick puppy to inflict that on anyone. I'd love to see one study that connects nitrous oxide to drug use. I think that's silly. I think it's also silly to say think that every instance of a child not behaving is just bad parenting or that you should just suck it up when there's a problem. Denying useful medications to child that have legitimate behavioral, emotional or mental problems makes as much sense as denying chemo to a cancer patient or anesthesia to a surgery patient.

Avoiding pain or anxiety relieving medication doesn't make you a better person.

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Reading is Fundamental.

Weren't those AWFUL?????? NO ONE is suggesting dental work for kids without some kind of pain relief. My only point is that kid was way too happy to go with the dental sutdent and obviously looking forward to his laughing gas buzz! ANd basically his dad thinks it's funny his kid likes getting buzzed. Not cool in my humble opinion.

Ya know... I will say this...

I've always brushed my teeth, but admittedly as a kid didn't do a fabulous job of it. I think if I'd had a healthy fear of the dentist's drill I probably would've been a better brusher. As it was, cavities were no big deal, and in fact having them filled was actually a pretty pleasant experience.

I think that sometimes when we remove natural consequences that the unintended consequence is the lowering of the behavior bar. Often pain and suffering are the things that make us think twice about dipping our toe into waters that are murky. I was notorious for late library books for years because in my hometown as a child, they gave you a 30 day grace period and then it was a penny a day fine up to a quarter max. No real pain... no avoidance behavior.

So *if* there is a downside to the gas, it may be related to poor dental habits. I guess I still don't see laughing gas as a gateway drug.

I agree - laughing gas itself would hardly be considered a gateway drug.

However, I do see the abhorrent behavior of the parent as described by OP as throwing open the gates, himself...

Who needs gateway drugs if you have a father/parent so willing to boast/rant to all about his kid's love of the pretty colors?

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

The only thing I can think of, Devinmom, is that there may have been more to the story. Not at all that the OP isn't telling the truth - just that there may have been... well....

For instance, my husband didn't grow up getting any dental care at all, much less the gas. The first time he had it was as an adult when he got his wisdom teeth pulled. He's not even a drinker, much less a drug user, so the whole experience was definitely a new sensation for him all around, and he is quite the jokester when he tells people how much he liked it.

He doesn't think of it is a *drug* or a hallucinogen - he's not especially medically inclined and all he knows is that it was the best pain control anyone with "Dr." in front of their name ever gave him - lol. It wouldn't even occur to him to ponder whether there were any dangers associated with either taking it *or* with making light of it in conversation, any more than he'd think twice about joking about the disorientation associated with having his eyes dilated.

So... I can definitely envision him cracking jokes with our boys were he to take them in for fillings. "Hey, make sure you get the gas! You'll love the spinning rainbows!"... etc.

Our kids are just about as straight-laced (but fun-loving and compassionate! ) as they come and the drug scene isn't anything they seem like they'll be drawn to, but they *would* all bond over laughing gas stories. Like I said... to them it'd rank right up there with the weird feeling you get at the eye dr. after they dilate your eyes and then send you out to look at the frames and expect that you can read the prices on those tiny tags when you aren't even sure how far off the ground you are since everything looks askew. That's worth a big chuckle... the nitrous oxide is worth a chuckle...even the bad experiences coming out of general anesthesia would be worth a chuckle and a faux warning (Hey, don't let 'em give you a triple dose of that sleeping stuff. I hear it's also a truth serum!").... but there would never be anything *seriosusly* linking street drugs and physician administered drugs in the minds of our kids.

I think it was the combination of the kid practically yelling "I want laughing gas", being so exited to get it AND the dad saying how much he enjoys seeing all those colors. All three together came across as way over the top. Wowitsdark-You are talking about your husband making jokes which is fine. But this was a little boy who was all excited. Even cracking jokes with your kids is ok concerning that. I'd do the same thing with my kids. But it was the boys excitement that was palpable and worrisome to me. It was just way out there! It could be perfectly innocent and fine but if my young child got that excited about a drug and it's effects, and it is a drug, I'd be concerned.

See Catherine, you and I can actually agree on some things. I know you have the experience of working with children. I would never want to take away meds from kids that it truly helped. I've just seen it overused way too much. As an example. I subbed for a teacher that I worked with while I was a para. It was a self contained special ed room. The ability of the kids in that room was sooo great! She made all th kids in the room take a nap after lunch. Why?? It made no sense to me. There were some very capable kids in that room. No normal 10 year old was ok with taking a nap. While I was there I had the capable kids use a computer math program while the other kids were knocked out on the seizure meds. They liked it and it was fun. I taught them their adresses and how to sign their names properly. The paras in the room loved me because I actually taught these kids. I was constantly telling these kids that the expectations were too low for them that it wasn't exceptable. I expected more from them. . .and they rose to the occasion. Whan I left that temporary assignment the principal wrote me a glowing recommndation. BUT back to this original post. . . .I think the Dad's atittude sucks! Ecouraging your kids thrilling behavior about gettin high is NOT ok.

__________________
"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Hambirg thanks for the very nice response back to me I deeply apprecaite it very well. I have learned from my past and prior experience working with little children you can go way further with them, when you speak to them in a calm voice. Who would want to be yelled at all the time.. Also I use alot of certain ways to get the children to listen and response. For instance, if they do something wrong, instead of yelling I will turn to them in a calm voice and simply say, oh Mrs. Fabian is so sad, and truly so many of them get upset , when I say I am sad. I never use the word bad we say sad, and truly it gets to them they understand and respond in a more postive way . ALso perhaps this has happened to you, there are alot of times when they all want to be first in place when we are lining up and of course they will say to me Mrs..Fabian so and so cut me, I simply turn around and always say cannot be cutting is for scissors, was anyone using scissors. Another important thing I use is when they complain they did not get the particular crayon or pencil they wanted, they all know to say you get what you get and you do not get upset. Finally one the best things we have implemented into our class is total sharing of all school supplies, this truly teaches them to share now and forever. Sorry to other posters that this got off topic.. Peace to all..... Catherine