In a SADD survey of 11th and 12th-grade students, 90 percent of respondents believe that their peers are more likely to drink and drive on prom night when compared to any other night of the year. At the same time, few of these students report believing that this is risky behavior.* As a parent and a student assistance professional, this belief is alarming and frightening to me.

There are many steps you can take to help prevent your teen from using drugs and alcohol on prom and graduation nights:

•    Talk to your teenager about drugs and alcohol, not just before prom season, but year round. Have open and regular conversations with your children about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol. Establish consequences that are appropriate for your family if your teenager is caught using drugs or alcohol, such as taking away their car because it’s not safe to drive when under the influence.  
•    Establish a zero tolerance policy for any drug or alcohol use. Some parents think that by allowing their teen to drink inside the home, they will keep their child safe and teach them to drink responsibly. This sends mixed messages and can lead to increased usage outside the home.
•    Know where your teen will be hanging out after prom and graduation. Reach out to their friend’s parents to determine their policy for drinking and drug use in their home to help prevent your teen from attending a party where you know alcohol use may be tolerated.
•    Establish a “no questions asked” that night pick-up policy. Tell your child that they can call at any time to be picked up from a party where there are drugs and/or alcohol, no questions asked that night (although the party may be discussed at a later date). Also underscore that he or she should never ride with a driver who has been drinking, and to call to be picked up instead.
•    Establish a code phrase. Your teenager may be embarrassed to call you and ask to be picked up from a party in front of their friends. Set up a code phrase, like “I’m hungry for pizza,” that your child can use to alert you that they need to be picked up from a party. Practice using this phrase ahead of time.
•    Investigate the school’s options for safe prom or graduation celebrations. Many schools have safe prom, graduation and senior week activities, which go a long way in helping prevent the use of drugs and alcohol by students. It’s important, however, that parents check what happens once a student leaves the event. Some kids will sign in, say they were there and then leave early to go to a party. Some schools have policies that say once you arrive, you’re locked in and cannot leave until a certain time.  
•    Investigate the limo or trolley. Many kids choose to take limos, trolleys or buses to the prom – which can also provide an opportunity for drinking or drug use if left unchecked. Call ahead to insure that the transportation company doesn't tolerate underage drinking and determine how they enforce it.
•    Model healthy celebrations. Parents are the number one influence on their children’s behavior. Show your children that you can celebrate life’s milestones without abusing alcohol. Kids who don’t see their parents get drunk are far less likely to abuse alcohol as a teen and adult.

Prom and graduation are important coming of age milestones for every teenager. Help your child celebrate them in a safe but meaningful way that they will remember for the rest of their lives – and hopefully one day they will pass on the tradition of a fun, drug- and alcohol-free celebration to their own children.  

Cory Trevena is a Student Assistance Program Coordinator at Caron Treatment Centers (www.caron.org). She has a Master’s Degree in Psychology and is certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Education as a Lead Trainer to provide training to elementary and secondary faculty members regarding Student Assistance services.

*Survey conducted by Liberty Mutual and SADD, over 2500 students surveyed