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. 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.