Prom, graduation and spring break - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Spring break, the prom and graduation - three of the most important events in your child's high school life. She's undoubtedly looking forward to good times with friends and lots of innocent fun. But if you want her to make it home safely, talk to her about alcohol, drugs, sex and her personal safety.

On the road

Make sure your child knows and understands the following rules:

• Never get into a car with someone who has been drinking. Make sure he has a cell phone and knows to call you if he needs a ride.
• Drive defensively. If he's driving, emphasize that there are likely to be drunk drivers on the road. Stress the importance of watching out for reckless or erratic driving.
• Stress the dangers of marijuana and other drugs. Many teens think driving under the influence of marijuana is less dangerous than driving drunk. But this is not true. Research shows that marijuana is linked to even more accidents than alcohol.
• Tell him to buckle up. Teen drivers are four times more likely to be in motor vehicle accidents than older drivers.

Other concerns

Alcohol and drugs on prom or graduation night can lead to crime and violent acts. Encourage the buddy system. It helps if your child and a friend are looking out for each other. Some things to warn your child about:

• Spiked drinks. Tell her to keep an eye on her beverages. GHB or Rohypnol, know as "date rape" drugs, can quickly and easily be dropped into a drink. These drugs can cause her to lose consciousness or the ability to move. Warn her of the possibility that her beverage could be spiked.
• Dating abuse. Encourage her to stay with a group of friends. Dating violence is very real, whether emotional, physical or sexual.
• Promiscuity and unprotected sex. Talk to her about sexually transmitted diseases and the consequences of unwanted pregnancy.

Party time

After the prom or graduation, there are plenty of parties, but should your child attend all of them? Set some boundaries by:

• Agreeing to what parties your child can attend. Call the hosting parents and make sure that the party will be chaperoned and carefully supervised. Also make sure alcohol will be strictly forbidden. If you are wary about the arrangements, steer your child toward a party you feel more comfortable with.
• Finding out the start and end times of a party. If there is no end time, impose one on your own, but compromise. After all, it is a special night.
• Suggesting an after-prom or after-graduation party hosted by your child's school. These parties usually last until morning and include games, prizes, food and beverages. Such events are closely supervised and are alcohol-free.

Senior Week

During spring break and after graduation, some high school seniors head for seaside resorts. For many, senior week and spring break equal binge drinking.

The risks of binge drinking include loss of consciousness and alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Binge drinking can also lead to unprotected sex and risk-taking behaviors.

If you can, volunteer to chaperone your child's trip. If not, check to see how closely supervised the group will be. Also find out how the resort handles underage drinking. Some have stricter rules than others.

When adults are supervising, children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Help your child to enjoy the beach, the ocean and the nightlife without getting involved with alcohol or drugs. Likewise, lay down rules that will help her to create everlasting memories of an exciting, but safe, senior year.