Dear Straight Talk: I have a problem that I can’t talk about with anyone. The problem is my brother. I’m a sophomore and he’s a senior and my parents think he’s the best kid in the world. He’s good looking, he stars on the football team, he gets good grades, he knows how to speak to adults and they all think he’s terrific. They have no idea he is using cocaine and selling it and that he frequents adult clubs (he looks older than his age) and spends money on prostitutes. He tells me all this stuff and I’m tired of lying for him so that he isn’t caught. Right now he pays me to lie when he needs me to. Our parents travel quite a bit and leave us here together. They think the world of him. They want me to be like him and they don’t even know what he’s like! I doubt they would even believe the truth if they heard it. How can I just live my own life and have nothing to do with him? Don’t tell me to turn him in. I don’t want to get him in trouble-besides he would kill me, I just want out from under it. – No name please
Dear No name: Think of it this way: Would you rather see your brother face your parents or face prison? I don’t know whether he’s 18 yet, but if he’s not, he’s close enough to 18 that selling cocaine in a high school will probably land him in more than juvenile hall. He’s going to get caught eventually and you’re going to wish you had stopped this roller coaster before it de-railed. You hold the power to put a stop to it before the police do and I believe there is a reason he has given you this power. Don’t let him down. Take this column to your parents and tell them you wrote it.
From Farren, 19: This same situation was happening at a high school in my hometown. A kid on a football team was selling and using cocaine and months later the whole team was found using it. Of course this ruined the football team’s reputation, it ruined the quarterback’s life, and it let down an entire community.
You shouldn’t worry about getting your brother in trouble, you should be worrying about his well-being. When your brother is only a senior, has an addiction to cocaine, is selling it, and is using the money to buy prostitutes, there is a point when you have to say “stop.”
Don’t be the naive one, and don’t be the one that lets things slide. Your parents should be aware of this, and it’s completely unfair that you’re not doing anything to stop it. If you want out of the situation, don’t lie for your brother anymore and don’t accept his money. You can’t live your life without having anything to do with him, it’s impossible. You are his sibling, and you have a responsibility to help your family and let your parents know what’s going on.
From Rose, 18: First of all, don’t follow in your brother’s footsteps. Cocaine is a horrible drug and I’ve seen what it does to people. I’m sorry your parents can’t see it, but in reality, a lot of adolescents who appear perfect are using heavy drugs. The best way to get out from under this is to refuse your brother’s money and let him know that you will no longer lie for him. But prepare yourself, because when he gets in trouble-which he will-your parents are going to ask if you knew what was going on.
From Katie, 13: I understand that you don’t want to rat him out, but when he doesn’t have you to cover him, he will get SO busted!
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