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Dear Attitude,

I’ve been living with my flatmate since we went to college and we’ve always got on really well. However, in the past six months I’ve noticed that he has been acting very strangely. He keeps himself to himself in his room and is looking pretty rough. I know he has in the past occasionally done recreational drugs when he’s out, but now I think he’s doing stronger drugs more regularly and in the house. I’ve also heard from a mutul mate that he has started going to chill-out parties, which I know are bad news. He’s a really good mate and I am beginning to get worried for him, but I don’t know how to approach him as I don’t want to sound like a judgemental parent.

Mark, 24, Manchester

Hi Mark,

Your mate is lucky to have someone like you watching out for him, and you’re absolutely doing the right thing by being concerned. The tricky bit is how you talk to him about it.

People use drugs for various reasons, and it’s definitely more common amongst certain groups, almost as if it’s not a big deal. Sometimes this normalisation of drug-taking behaviour can get out of control, and you can imagine how easy it is to lose your hold on things – especially as many of them can be highly addictive. Some people use them as a way of escape or deal with other issues they are going through. Whatever the reason, they could have a serious impact on your physical and mental health, sometimes before you even realise it.