13 yr old neice buying cannabis - what can I do/say?

[mcnoodle]

My 13 yr old neice has been "caught" buying cannabis by her mum. She is a lovely but complex girl, who was adopted after being born addicted to heroin. We get on well - she perceives me as being 'cool' - and she has talked to me in euphemisms about boys/smoking/cannabis quite recently. I debated whether to tell her parents, but felt that it was more talk than action, and that I should keep her confidence unless I was really concerned. Obviously I have now been proved wrong. More worryingly, she has developed a bit of a fixation with Pete Docherty, and is drawing syringes on her exercise books. She knows about her parents (both users) and has started saying things like "My parents were addicts so it's part of who I am". I'm sure she's not trying anything stronger than weed, but I think she sees drug-taking in general as romantic and 'cool'.

Her mum and I aren't exactly bosom buddies. I find her very dogmatic and quite aggressive. I'm sure she thinks I'm an over-protective, middle class hippy, but that aside, she has asked me to talk to her dd. I used to work with homeless teenagers so in theory I should know what I'm doing, but it was a long time ago, they were older, and it is difficult to be objective with a young girl who you really care about. My plan is:

Give niece information about cannabis, particularly in relation to mental health/strength.

Try and get her to open up about what she does/doesn't want to be involved with, peer group stuff

Talk to her gently about my experiences of working with heroin addicts

Give her the Talk to Frank address

Give her mum the mumsnet address to she can get some support

Would you be horrified if someone talked to your 13 yr olds about all of this? What would you want them to say?

I used drugs recreationally for years before I dc so I will not go down the 'Just Say No' route. I know it has limited impact.

[Elasticwoman]

If my 13 yo was taking illicit drugs I'd appreciate any help, esp from some one as sensible and experienced with teenagers as you. And the mother has asked for your help so I don't see why she should be horrified.

"It's part of who I am" - so does she want to be some one who gives birth to an addicted baby? Does she know how ill she was as a newborn? Does she want to be in the position of having her own baby taken away? She does have a choice.

[MerryPIFFLEmas]

I'd be thrilled if my ds could not talk to me about something like this, that he had an adult who could be sensible about it and discuss with him properly.