A teenager has penned a heart-rending open letter to her drug-addict parents, thanking them for NOT being there for her.
Chelsea Cameron, 18, says she spent most of her childhood watching her mum and dad pass out on drugs, while dealers hammered on the door for money.
The schoolgirl from Dundee was also nearly expelled from school, as her mum and dad's actions tore the family further apart.
But the defiant teen managed to rise above it and make a success of her life - and she says its all down to her parents.
In a 1,300 word blog post, she says: "Mum and dad – thanks for everything, I owe you.
"'It's been a while since I spoke to any of you openly...in fact I'm not entirely sure I ever have...
"Parents, both of you, thank you for teaching me that taking drugs ruin lives, breaks families apart and gives no one a quality of life worth living."
In the letter, she tells how her parents missed her exam results, her appointment as head girl, her school prize-giving and her once in a lifetime trip to Uganda.
It continues: "Thank you for teaching me to be ambitious. Your example showed me that no ambition for education, work or any type of success is very harmful and leads to not a lot of self worth.
"Your example showed me that life is all about choices and that I didn't need to make the same ones you did...
"Life is not sunshine and rainbows and thank you for teaching me that life is unfair, people disappoint you and there's sometimes nothing you can do about that. A lesson well learnt from the both of you...
'You have both allowed me to be a more patient and tolerant person than I could have imagined."
Ending the letter, Chelsea writes: "Dad, I see you often but I hope you now have a greater insight into the type of person I am and the things you have taught me.
"Mum, I’ve not seen you in a while and I hope you’re well. I hope you also know me a bit better now, and know that I’m trying to be a good person and that all is well.
"I hope one day that you’ll wake up and realise there is so much more the world has to offer you guys and when that day comes, please come to find me so we can enjoy life together.
"I’ll show you some nice restaurants I like to go to and if you’re lucky I might take you to Germany one day.
"Until then, I’ll dream of what my life would be like with parents to enjoy it with."
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Chelsea was taken into social care when she was 14-years-old.
With the support of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she rose to become head girl at her school.
And it is through the church she travelled to Uganda to carry out missionary work and is now hoping to go to Germany.
Since the letter, Chelsea's mum Tammy has admitted in an interview with Evening Telegraph that she was “riddled with guilt” about what she had put her daughter through.
Having read the letter, Tammy says she has long wanted to say sorry to Chelsea — and let her know how proud she was of her “amazing daughter”.
She said: “No child should have to go through what Chelsea did and live that kind of life.
“I am ashamed and upset at my behaviour and am so sorry and so proud of her.”
Chelsea, who says she first became aware of drug-taking within her home when she was just seven, is now hoping other teenagers will be inspired by her letter.
“One of the main reason I have written the letter is to show other youngsters in a similar situation that they don’t have to suffer because of their parents’ behaviour," she said.
“I have risen above everything because I was determined not to live the same life as them. I want to be an example for others.”