Prom has always been a much anticipated right of passage for high school students. Unfortunately, at too many schools, this right of passage is becoming less about the event itself and more about the partying before and afterward. As a result, prom season is generating growing concern for school administrators and parents alike. For starters, the number of teens killed in car crashes during prom season is higher than any other time of the year. For students attending a local high school in my area, the Monday after prom is an official release day, giving students time to recover from what they call “hangover weekend.”
As the stakes get higher, more and more high school administrators are realizing that they are playing russian roulette when it comes to prom. In response to growing concern that prom nights are becoming dangerously risky for teens, one New York high school moved it to the middle of the week coupled with mandatory attendance the following day. Though likely unpopular with many teens, these measures reflect the importance of rethinking prom policies to ensure that prom is a positive night to remember.
Check out this video for Good Morning America’s story on prom season and teen drinking.
Most importantly, connect with your kids around this issue. Here are five tips for talking to your teens about drinking and drugs on prom night:
1. Set your expectations about drinking early. The number one deterrent for teen drinking is parental limits – make sure your kids know where you stand.
2. Ask your teens about their plans before and after prom. Ask where they are going and who they will be hanging out with. Be in touch with other parents about their plans.
3. Remember that teenagers’ prefrontal cortexes are still under construction, and that, drop for drop, alcohol does more damage to a growing brain than a developed one. Share this with your teen, even if there is eye rolling.
4. Consider hosting your teen and his or her friends at your house post-prom. Promise to be out of their hair, but not out of the house.
5. Make sure your kids know that they can call you on prom night, NO MATTER WHAT.