Keep Teens Safe This Prom and Graduation Season

It’s prom and graduation season -- a time for celebration that can be marred by the fatal consequences of illegal underage drinking. One bad decision can result in tragedy for the young person, as well as his or her family, friends, and our entire community.

May has been proclaimed “Parents Who Host, Lose the Most Month” by the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (see photos above) in support of the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County’s countywide efforts to reduce underage drinking. Underage youth who drink say they can easily get alcohol from their family home, older siblings, and friends, even though it is illegal in Virginia for a person under 21 years of age to consume or possess alcohol and illegal for an adult to provide alcohol to a person under 21. The good news is that teens cite their parents as the leading influence for them not to drink.

Help make prom and graduation night safe for teens by following these tips:

• Do not serve or allow alcohol at any party you are hosting; an adult who provides alcohol to a minor is breaking the law and risking that teen’s life.

• Know where your teenager is attending a party; verify there will be parental supervision, and that it will be alcohol-free.

• Make it clear to your teen(s) that you do NOT approve of their drinking alcohol.

• Report underage drinking parties by calling the Fairfax County Police Department’s non-emergency number: 703-691-2131. Your call can be anonymous and may prevent injuries or a fatal car crash.

• Educate your family on the risks associated with underage drinking and its proven harmful effects on the brain. The legal drinking age is 21, and students who wait until their early 20s to drink are 84 percent less likely to develop an addiction than those who start earlier.

• Make sure your teen has a plan for the night and that you know what it is.

• Do not rent hotel rooms for prom-goers.

• Know who is driving – if it’s a limo, check their policy on not allowing any alcohol in the vehicle and driving any teen who clearly has been drinking.

• Encourage your senior to attend their school’s All Night Graduation Celebration.

Please help protect your child’s bright future by providing a safe, alcohol-free season of celebrations for your son or daughter.

“The Perils of the College Drinking Culture” Forum on May 20

Parents of college-bound students are encouraged to attend with their student “The Perils of the College Drinking Culture” on Wednesday, May 20 at Northern Virginia Community College’s Ernst Community Cultural Center at 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale (Free parking in B Lots only).

The program of the Unified Prevention Coalition includes an award-winning film and discussion with an emergency room physician, the chief deputy for the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, police officer, the GMU student wellness office director, a father who lost his son after a night of college drinking, and a college student to educate parents and students about this important public health issue. Information will be provided to help future college students make sound choices that will lead to positive academic experiences and enjoyment of college life without endangering themselves.

For more information, contact UPC at 703-938-8723, or visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org.

The Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County is a nonprofit organization with more than 60 community partners working together to keep youth and young adults safe and drug-free. Visit www.unifiedpreventioncoalition.org and www.facebook.com/unifiedpreventioncoalition. Follow the group on Twitter at www.twitter.com/keepyouthsafe.