Party Time
For many kids, prom night is a rite of passage. Their first adult sanctioned, all-night party. They dress up and look and act like little adults. But often after the bewitching hour, they turn back into party happy teenagers and that often means drinking, dancing and much more.
“There’s drugs, sex and a lot more drinking than parents would think,” says 17 year old Lisa. It used to be that prom was a once a year event, but kids now say it’s the beginning of a season of all night parties called summer. “Every time we get paid, I’ll spend all my money and we’ll get a hotel room and have a party, probably like three times a month,” says an 18 year old.
Experts say it’s important for parents to talk with kids before they ever go out the door. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of in reiterating your own values about not having sex, not getting drunk, not using drugs. It’s quite all right to do that,” says Dr. Ralph D’Clemente, a psychologist.
D’Clemente says it’s important that kids know what parents expect, understand their own family values, and learn that when they are caught breaking the rules, the punishment will fit the crime.
What Parents Should Know
Kids say all kinds of drugs are passed around at unsupervised all night parties. Many times kids will take a tablet, pill or powder, without even knowing what the substance is they have been handed.
It is crucial that parents have conversations with kids about the dangers of taking illegal or prescription substances without understanding what kind of chemicals they are putting into the body.
Kids should be warned that drugs which contain GHB, GLB, GD or Rohypnol can kill. At least three deaths have been linked to BD. The drug can cause seriously low respiratory rates, unconsciousness, vomiting, and seizures.
Rohypnol is the trade name for a central nervous system depressant like valium. However, it’s about ten times more potent than valium. It is generally snorted, injected or taken orally.
Also known as the date rape drug, Rohypnol is often taken with alcohol or pot to enhance intoxication. It also enhances or eases the withdrawal from heroin, mellows the high or cocaine and eases a user down from a crack or cocaine binge.
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“Every time we get paid, I’ll spend all my money and we’ll get a hotel room and have a party, probably like three times a month.” --Anonymous, age 18 |
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Party on the Net The Food and Drug Administration warns that a group of products marketed as sleep aids and body-fat reducers are now being sold on the Internet as party drugs. The warning came after the government confiscated the drugs that contained GHB and GBL which have been banned as sleep aids and diet supplements. The chemicals have been used as date rape drugs to sedate girls. |
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Rohypnol is a well known party drug that is often associated with date rape crimes. But now studies show some girls are taking the drug intentionally. Researchers at the University of Texas questioned women ages 14 to 26 and found that almost six percent said they had voluntarily taken the drug at least once. A smaller percentage reported repeated use with some saying they have voluntarily taken the drug up to twenty times. Rohypnol or “roofies” has been used in cases where girls were raped after someone slipped the drug into their drinks. Those who take the drug say one pill is like drinking two six packs of beer. |
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Resources
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Kaiser Family
Foundation/Children Now The National
Parenting Center Growing Happy
Kids, Evelyn Peterson |
For
more information on parenting issues contact us: Connecting with Kids |