San Diego County Office of Education
Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities,
Tobacco Use Prevention Education, and
Reducing Alcohol Abuse in Continuation High Schools
Resource Memorandum
To:
SDFS/C & TUPE Coordinators
Project TAT Staff
Date: May 9, 2006
From: Deb Pint
Project Specialist
RE:
Prom and Grad Night
Prom + Graduation
+ Senior Beach
Week =
Underage Drinking
Mayhem
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.
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.
Discuss
Tips for Parents
Safety
With Your
Child
 Be a good listener
Even if
 Give clear no-use messages about drugs and
your child
alcohol
resists
 Help your child deal with peer pressure to use
alcohol and
drugs
drugs, he
 Get to know your child's friends and parents
or she is
 Monitor your child's whereabouts
still at risk
 Supervise teen activities
for
 Maintain an open and honest dialogue with your
becoming
child.
victimized
by them.
--from Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know
Emphasize
http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/MarijParentsN.html
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.