Dangers of Teenage Partying

Teenagers have always thrown parties, but as the recent generations have begun their ascent toward adulthood, things have reached a new level. Gone are the days when teens sneaking a cigarette or stealing a beer from the fridge were a parent’s biggest concerns. Now, hardcore binge drinking, drug use, date rape and exploitation are all common occurrences, and the scary part is, teenagers seem to be getting used to it.

The Danger of Drinking Games: Beer Pong is Just The Beginning
Drinking games such as “beer pong,” which encourage teens to binge on alcohol, are now commonplace among the high school and college crowd. Their popularity makes it even harder for teens to avoid drinking. If everyone at the party is participating, the non-drinkers will find themselves sitting on the sidelines.

Binge drinking can lead to poor decisions, embarrassment and even death by alcohol poisoning, but teens still find themselves longing to take part. You probably shudder at the thought of your daughter being taken advantage of at a party, but lowered inhibitions due to drinking games can easily lead it to happen.

The Role of Social Media: No Escape From Bad Decisions
The affects of social media on our culture have us reeling as a society, and parents are still learning to deal. One challenging aspect is the fact that social media makes it easier than ever for teens to communicate. Remember the days when you had to call your friend’s house and ask to speak with her? Now, all teenagers have to do is message each other on Facebook the moment someone’s parents go out of town, and the party is on.

Social media presents another problem as well: providing an outlet for exploitation, bullying and abuse. It would be bad enough for a young girl to get drunk and embarrass herself at a party, but now she has to deal with the fact that she’s likely being filmed and photographed. Once something is uploaded online, it lasts forever, which makes taking party in the party culture a bigger risk than ever for teens.

Teenagers want to socialize. That will likely not change. However, as parents, it’s important for us to set realistic rules and boundaries. If possible, don’t go out of town and leave your teenager alone. He or she is still essentially a child, and although you may have a lot of trust between you, it’s important to realize that all children are capable of being swayed by peer pressure. Always talk to your kids about the dangers of drugs, sex and alcohol, and help them understand that the results of some decisions can last forever.