BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

* Cute and sparkly dress?

* Corsage for your date?

* Stretch SUV rented?

* After-party sleepover?

Looks like it’s time for prom!

Prom season is an exciting time usually filled with graduation, parties, and anticipation about summer break. It’s a well deserved breather from schoolwork and cause to celebrate all you’ve accomplished during the year. When I graduated from high school it was a total whirlwind! Every single one of my friends had big graduation bashes. I think I party-hopped for five days straight.

However, prom season is also a time of teen drinking, drinking and driving, and other reckless behavior. Many tragedies have happened around prom season due to teen drinking and accidents. In fact, alcohol is the greatest cause of death of people ages 10-24.

My senior prom (way back in 2000!) was at the top of the Prudential building in Boston. It was a real treat and privilege to have that kind of venue for the night. We were told weeks beforehand that drinking was strictly forbidden and security would be tight at the event. Determined not to ruin our prom, my friends and I promised not to drink or do anything to jeopardize our night. Some people did get thrown out for having alcohol and were not allowed to walk at graduation, but we stuck to our plan and had an awesomely fun night that I will remember forever.

Keeping yourself and your friends safe during prom/graduation time is critical. Here are some things you can do to ensure prom night is fun, memorable, and safe:

• Make a promise to your friends ahead of time that you will not drink and that you will support their decision not to drink.
• Plan a response in case a someone pressures you to drink.
• Be your own person. If someone has alcohol or is drinking in front of you, walk away or leave.
• Always wear your seatbelt and make sure your cell phone is fully charged.
• Ask your parents to host an after-party where you know there will be no alcohol. Let them be the bouncers if anyone tries to bring booze.
• Keep the party local. Don’t have the after-party in a hotel room or cabin in the woods. If something bad happens it may take too long for a parent to come help.
• Stay off the road. Rent a cool stretch limo or have a parent drive you to the prom, and stay in once you get to the after-party.
• Know the consequences. If you get caught being drunk at school, on the road, or by your parents you will be in big trouble (grounded, suspended, banned from graduation, or worse, arrested, in a car accident, or dead).

Hey Parents: You can get involved too! Check out the Teen Safe parent page on how to keep your teens safe from alcohol and during prom season. The Children’s Hospital also has a great Web site discussing prom safety tips and ways to keep your teens safe.