Spring break is one of the most important times of the year for high school teens. It can be a time to relax, draw closer to friends and make lifelong memories, but it is also a time where teens are more likely to participate in risky behavior. Teen girls are even more likely to participate in risky behavior during this time of year. 

According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, one in seven high school students under the age of 18 take unsupervised trips during Spring Break. These students are not the only ones at risk, though. Teens who stay at home are often unsupervised by parents or teachers and are therefore more likely to use marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol. 

Keeping your teen safe during Spring Break can be easier than you think. Here are a few tips to help you keep you teen safe during Spring Break:

1. Set Rules, especially no drinking or drug use

• Explain that Spring Break does not mean a break from responsibility. Be clear about your expectations and the consequences for breaking the rules. 
  
• Talk candidly about the risks of drug use and drinking, including alcohol poisoning, violence, STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and sexual assault. For parents with daughters, include a conversation about date rape drugs. These drugs can be put into alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, so be sure she opens her drinks herself and does not leave them unattended. 

2. Prepare your teen

• Stress the use of a buddy system. Three or more is recommended. 
• If your teen is traveling, make sure they know  the laws in the areas they are traveling to. 
• Walk through peer pressure scenarios. Give them ways to tell their peers no, without making them feel "uncool." 

3. Keep up communication and double check everything 

• Know where your teen is staying and the activities he/she has planned.
• If your teen is staying at home, know how he/she is spending his/her unsupervised time.
  
• Require a daily check in via phone call and ask questions. If your teen is traveling, make sure you have phone numbers for his/her friends as well.
• Network with other parents. Compare plans and coordinate rules with other parents.  

For more tips or information please visit The AntiDrug.com. 

Here are some tips to help you keep them safe on prom night. 

• Plan safe transportation well in advance. Prepare for prom by helping your teen prepare how they are getting to prom and how they are getting back home. Many teens rent limos, others simply ride with their date. 
• Warn your teen not to get into the car with someone who has been drinking, doing drugs or is exhausted. Also tell them to be aware of others on the road. On the weekends there are more impaired drivers  traveling. Just because your teen and her friends aren't drinking or doing drugs doesn't mean that someone on the road isn't. Defensive driving works and your teen should know to be aware. 
• This seems simple, but remind your teen to wear his seatbelt. It is against the law for them not to wear it, so not only can it save them money by not costing them a ticket, but it can save their life. 
• Be available. Let them know that you or an older sibling can come get them if they no longer feel safe with their date or their friends. 
• Know what your teen is doing before, during and after the main event. Check with other parents to make sure these plans are real. If your teen wants to go to a party that you don't approve of suggest something else. Don't be afraid to be creative! If you suggest something cool like late night formal wear bowling, or an after prom swim party at your house, or even a sleep over with a pancake breakfast(made by you of course) they will be more willing to skip the party and you will know where they are. You can also collaborate with other parents to give your child a great after-prom experience without drugs or alcohol. 
• Talk to them about drugs and alcohol. Teachers are expecting students to try to have drugs and alcohol at prom, so they are looking for it. Warn your teen that those choices have consequences and explain them to her. Let her know the consequences for your household as well as the legal and social consequences of being impaired by drugs or alcohol. 
• Prepare them with cash, credit cards and fully charged cell phones. You  want your teen to be ready for any emergency. Be sure they have cash and an emergency credit card in case they need anything. Also be sure their cell phone is fully charged so they can contact you or a sibling if they need help. 

It is expected that your teen will want to go to a party with his friends during his last night as a high school student, but that doesn't mean he needs to participate in risky behavior that can jeopardize his future. Here are some tips for you as a parent to make sure your teen remains safe while still having fun. 

• Explain what can happen legally and socially as well as in your household if your teen uses drugs or alcohol. Drugs and alcohol impair judgement. They can cause teens to act in ways they wouldn't if they were sober, and oftentimes cause them to socially embarrass themselves. Thanks to text messages and sites like Facebook and Twitter, this social embarrassment can last forever through pictures and messages your teen wishes no one could see. Furthermore, it is illegal for them to use alcohol and there are serious consequences if they get caught. As a parent, it is also good for you to let them know the consequences for drinking or using drugs while they live in your household. Let them know that you will find out and they will be punished for their behavior. For more information on drugs or alcohol and its effects please visit the just for parents home and follow the links.
• Prepare your teen with ways to say no gracefully. Teach them to play it off as a joke, or to pretend they didn't hear the person offer drugs or alcohol. They could also just change the subject. Another option is using the "parent excuse."  They could say something like "My parents are waiting up and I will be in so much trouble," or "I'll have to tell mom everything right when I get home and she will know if I'm messed up." 
• Warn them about impaired drivers. On the weekends there are higher numbers of drunk drivers on the road. This could include people your teen are with after graduation. Warn them to be a defensive driver, to wear their seatbelt and to not get into a car with anyone who has been drinking or doing drugs, even if they seem fine or they are only going a short distance. 
• Host the party or event yourself. You could avoid all this by hosting a fun event for your teen and all her friends yourself. You and other parents could get together and and host THE EVENT. This would allow you to be the cool parent and you would know your teen and her friends are all night. Ask for your teen's input and help planning the party. This way your know it is something she will enjoy. 

When you talk to them about drinking in college, you might also want to discuss the health risks of alcohol along with the differences between low risk drinking and high risk drinking that can be found at the bottom of this page. 

What you should do right now:

Share realistically your own experiences with drinking, both positive and negative. Be clear about what you expect from your son/daughter about such things as:

• Attending class
• Drinking and driving
• Financial responsibility 
• Choices regarding drinking 
• Study time vs. social time 
• Staying in touch 

Here are some conversation starters you might want to use:

• How will you decide whether or not to drink at college?
• What will you do if you find yourself at a party with only alcohol to drink?
• What will you do if your roommate only wants to party or drink?
• What will you do if you find a student passed out in the bathroom? 
• How will you handle it if you are asked to "baby-sit" someone very drunk? 

Don't forget these very important topics:

• Family beliefs and values regarding alcohol.
• How to get help on campus.
• How to refuse a drink.

What to do once they are at college:

Since the first 6 weeks of college are a very high-risk time for first year students, you may want to call, write, or email frequently and be supportive.

Ask questions such as:

• How are you doing?
• Do you like your classes?
• What are the parties like?
• What kind of activities are available?
• Do you like the dorms? Why?
• How are you getting  along with your roommate?
• Are you feeling overwhelmed?
• What can I do to help?

Most college students make responsible decisions about the use or non-use of alcohol. However, we also know that:
          Availability of alcohol + absence of parents + desire to fit in = potentially risky drinking decisions

High Risk Drinking and Low Risk Drinking: 
Low risk drinking:

• Thinking about whether you will drink, what you will drink before the party
• Being 21 or older
• Eating a meal before drinking
• Abstaining is the safest choice
• Drinking no more than one drink per hour; maximum one drink for women, two for men
• Always knowing what you are drinking
• Alternating alcohol-free drinks throughout the evening
• Knowing how you will get home safely before you go out

High risk drinking:

• Chugging, drinking games, shots (drinking anything out of a punch bowl, trough, hose or funnel) 
• Drinking to get drunk (intoxicated)
• Driving after drinking or riding with someone under the influence
• Drinking too much too fast
• Going to parties where people drink too much
• Not knowing what is in your glass or leaving it unattended
• Mixing alcohol with medications or illegal drugs 
• Binge drinking