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 Prom + Graduation + Senior Beach Week =
Underage Drinking Mayhem
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As the school
year comes to an end across the United
States, many teenagers will attend high
school proms, celebrate high school or college graduations, and take trips to
local beaches for senior week.
The
combination of an abundance of alcohol with young people celebrating the end
of a school year, or even the end of high school, can lead to many problems.
While many of these seniors and other teenagers expect to have rules-free,
fun-filled celebrations with their friends, they may very well engage in
risky behaviors, such as:
- Underage drinking
- Drug use
- Promiscuity and
unprotected sex
- Impaired driving.
Besides the
risky behaviors listed above, teenagers may encounter other problems that are
sometimes beyond their control. For instance, without adult guidance,
teenagers may be at an increased risk for becoming victims of crimes such as
theft, violence, injury, and rape.
But, parents
can make a difference in preventing some of these behaviors by educating
themselves about the activities teens are often exposed to during these late
springtime celebrations.
Prom
Prom is usually the first event to mark the winding down of the school year.
Students often spend months saving so they can rent luxurious limousines, eat
at expensive restaurants, and wear fancy dresses and tuxedos.
While many
students do not drive on prom night, underage drinking is still dangerous.
Alcohol can damage brain cells, interact negatively with medications, and
lead to loss of control and violence. Binge drinking can lead to loss of
consciousness and alcohol poisoning, which often results in death.
Parents
should point out ways for their teenagers to enjoy prom without alcohol. Many
schools offer "after-prom" parties, which begin at the end of the
dance and usually last until morning. Prom goers can win prizes,
Graduation
High school and college
graduations are such a special time for young people because their hard work
has finally paid off with a diploma and the opportunity to move on to another
part of their lives, which promises to be new and exciting. For many
graduating seniors, it is a bittersweet time, when they may need to say
goodbye to some of their school friends. Often, seniors head directly from
their graduation ceremonies to parties to celebrate the promise of their new
life. However, the focus of many of these parties is often drinking,
specifically binge drinking.
One of the
many concerns associated with graduation is impaired driving. In 2000, between 50 and 60 percent of all fatal car crashes that
occurred on weekends during prom and graduation season were alcohol related,
according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Senior Beach Week
Every year during the first 3 weeks or so of June, thousands of teenagers,
particularly high school seniors, head to the beach to celebrate the summer
and their newfound freedom. Many of these teenagers hope to spend the week
lounging on the beach with their friends during the day and drinking at
night. However, many of these teenagers also end up engaging in unprotected
sex, binge drinking, and risking their personal safety while under the
influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.
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What Can Parents Do?
Parents
can help keep their teenagers safe during these upcoming activities by
taking several important steps.
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
Talk
with your child by calmly explaining your feelings about substance use and
allow your child to talk about any questions or concerns he or she may
have. Remember that communication involves not only speaking, but also
listening to the child's opinions and emotions.
It
is important that you let him or her know you do not approve of illicit
drug and alcohol use because it is dangerous. Be firm, but nonjudgmental.
Your child is too important to succumb to the risks of alcohol and drugs!
Be
especially careful about letting your child drive or ride in a car with
other teenagers during school-end events. Parents need to discuss all
aspects of teenage driving with their children. You must set rules for your
teenagers about talking on cell phones, carrying other teenagers as
passengers, and curfews. Many States are beginning to legislate some of
these issues through graduated driver licensing programs. It also is
important for parents to ask their children where they will be at all times
and what they will be doing. Ask your child for specifics and find out how
you can reach him or her at all times.
It
also is important for parents to ask their children where they will be at
all times and what they will be doing. Ask your child for specifics and
find out how you can reach him or her at all
times.
Be Involved
Be actively involved in your child's life. Parents can check to see if
their child's school will be holding after-prom or after-graduation
parties. If so, offer to volunteer some time and work to ensure that the
party will appeal to students. If your community does not offer these
alcohol-free parties, find out from school officials if it is feasible to
create a task force of parents and teachers to plan a party.
In
addition, talk with your child's transportation provider and emphasize that
you expect him or her to forbid drinking. Check school policies for
underage drinking and contact the person in charge at all places your child
will be during the course of the night. If your child says he or she will
be hanging out at a friend's house after prom, call that friend's parents
to ensure they will be supervising and that they have a zero tolerance
policy for alcohol and illicit drugs.
During
Beach Week, accompany your child on his or her vacation, if at all
possible. This way, you may be able to keep your child and his or her friends safe by discouraging them from giving in to any
temptations they may have to use alcohol or illicit drugs. Young people
will be less likely to experiment with these substances if parents are
nearby.
If
you are unable to go on the vacation with your child, talk with the parents
of your child's friends to see if any of them can go on the trip and
monitor the young people's activities.
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Tips for Parents
- Be a good
listener
- Give clear
no-use messages about drugs and alcohol
- Help your child
deal with peer pressure to use drugs
- Get to know your
child's friends and parents
- Monitor your
child's whereabouts
- Supervise teen
activities
- Maintain an open
and honest dialogue with your child.
--from Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/MarijParentsN.html
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Discuss Safety With Your Child
Even if your child resists alcohol and drugs, he or she is still at risk
for becoming victimized by them. Emphasize the importance of watching out
for careless, and possibly drunken, drivers and using the "buddy
system" so that he or she is with at least one friend at all times.
Encourage your child to call you at any time if he or she needs a safe ride
home or for any other reason.
Also
stress the need for teenagers to keep an eye on their beverages while out
and never accept a drink from someone they do not know. "Date-rape
drugs," such as GHB and Rohypnol, can be slipped into a person's drink
in mere seconds. The drugs are tasteless and odorless and the victim may
not even be aware he or she is being drugged. These drugs cause the victim
to lose consciousness or be unable to move so that a person can take
advantage of him or her.
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