Safe Prom and Graduation Season

The Oyster River High School Prom is this Friday, May 14^th.

We want to wish all the attendees a fun and safe Prom night.

Below is some information that is important for any parent who may have a child enjoying this exciting night out.

I know we all have our own fond memories of the prom, despite the hair styles, fluffy dresses and ill fitting tuxes.

Much has changed, particularly in the law. It is very important that we are all aware of how much things really have changed.

Please forward this message along so we can all be aware of how to keep our kids safe.

It does indeed take a village to raise a child.

Thank you, Kim Clark

A SAFE PROM AND GRADUATION SEASON

Each weekend during prom/graduation season, nearly 50 teens are killed in car crashes (U.S. Dept. of Transportation). Many teens consider alcohol/drug use as normal adolescent rites of passage. Now is the time to encourage our teens to celebrate safely without alcohol or drugs.

Facilitating a Drug or Underage Alcohol Party (RSA 644:18)

· Defined as 5+ persons under the age of 21, not related to the host

· Must only prove that one person possessed or consumed alcohol or a controlled drug

· All guests are taken into protective custody and parents are called

Host penalties…

· 17+ age – tried as an adult

· Class A or B misdemeanor depending on circumstances -- penalty of up to one year in jail

· Up to a $2000 fine

Notes of warning…

· If an underage drinker leaves a party and gets into an accident, the host of the party is liable both criminally and civilly. They can be charged with both Prohibited Sales and Facilitating an Underage Party (combined fines of up to $4000 and up to 2 years in jail).

· If a hotel room is rented by or for students for the purpose of an underage drinking party, the person whose name is registered on the room is responsible & can be held criminally liable.

· “Purchasing alcohol for minors is a crime, no matter what the circumstances. There are significant consequences that face adults who give alcohol to underage drinkers.” –Eddie Edwards, Chief of

Enforcement for the NH Liquor Commission

Suggestions:

· Let’s help our kids make the right decisions to avoid putting themselves at risk. Keep prom/graduation activities safe by asking questions about our teens’ plans and having conversations with them about how to say “no” to alcohol/drugs, while still having fun.

· Tell your teen, or any young person you care about, that you do not want him getting into a car with someone who has had even one drink or who has been using illegal drugs.

· Remind your teen to wear a seatbelt, even if it will wrinkle a lovely evening gown.

· Tell your teen that you want her to call you if she can’t get a safe ride home. Emphasize that you want her to call even if she herself has been drinking or using drugs (reassure her that, while you do not support this behavior, her safety is your first concern).

· If you host parties for teens, do not allow them to drink alcohol or use drugs. Check on them regularly to be sure that no one is sneaking alcohol or other illegal substances into your home. The consequences of allowing underage drinking and the use of drugs in your home is severe, especially if a guest is injured or killed during the party or after leaving your home.

· Be a good role model. If you have been drinking, don’t drive. We all know that young people learn by example – don’t send mixed messages.

· Be creative & take advantage of the way that teens prefer to communicate. Remind teens not to drink by sending text messages as simple as “Have fun 2night. B safe. Don’t drink. We care.” Text

messaging allows us to reinforce with our kids how serious this issue is & how much we care. A survey commissioned by the Century Council showed that 65% of teens cite parents as their leading i influence for them not to drink.

Keeping our kids healthy is one of our primary jobs as a parent. Most of us willingly support our teens in a positive activity (e.g., cheering at her soccer game, clapping at his concert performance, or applauding at the play). However, we sometimes forget about our powerful positive impact when we are limiting our children’s activities by drawing boundaries. Successful parenting combines both the w warmth of boosting & saying “Yes!” with the firmness of limiting and saying “No!”

“ We love our kids, but we aren’t their friends, we are their parents.”

- Durham Deputy Chief Renee Kelly

“Conversation starters for parents” http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/conversations-for-parents.asp

“Hazards and risks of teen alcohol use” http://www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/drug_info_alcohol.asp