It’s 4:23 on a Friday afternoon and Edgewater students are getting anxious. Plans for the weekend have been made and most have one thing on their mind – tonight’s blow-out house party. Parties are all part of the “high school experience” and most involve loud music, plenty of people, and plastic red cups. According to SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), about 10.8 million people ages 12-20 reported drinking alcohol in the past month. Nearly 7.2 million of these were binge drinkers and 2.3 million were heavy drinkers. While parties can be a great way to meet new people and de-stress, the negative side is that these parties are usually centered around alcohol.
“Mostly everyone I know parties and over half of them drink. I party every few weeks myself,” said Brianna Istok-Writer, junior.
It doesn’t take much for teens to get a “buzz” and the consumption doesn’t usually stop there. Drinking games, like Beerpong, and straight shots entail drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period time. The result? Getting drunker, faster. More than half (58%) of 12th graders report having been drunk at least once in their life. Teenagers don’t have a problem getting enough drinks for a party. Parents may have their own supply, which can easily be stolen, and many convenient stores are lax on checking IDs.
“It’s extremely easy to get my hands on alcohol. I can either get it out of my parents stash or even go buy it myself. There are places all over town that don’t check if we’re 21,” said an anonymous sophomore.
Alcohol is not the only illegal substance being passed around parties. Half of American teenagers have tried cigarettes before age 18 and marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug with over 14.6 million past month users. Half of high school students have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school.
“I smoke with friends on the weekends. You just need to make sure parents won’t find out,” said an anonymous freshman.
If you plan not to drink or smoke and everyone else is doing it, things can get extremely boring, very fast. Teens who have taken a substance usually find everything around them amusing and when you’re sober it may not seem so fun. Sitting alone on the couch while everyone around you is enjoying themselves is not the best way to spend your time. This is when peer pressure kicks in and students join in on the “real” party. Fortunately, some teens stay strong in their decisions not to take part in the illegal festivities.
“My parents have strongly pushed not drinking on me. It’s really bad and I would be in major trouble if I got caught. I don’t want to disappoint them,” said Amy Thrailkill, freshman.
Overall, the party scene has its pros and cons. It all depends on the choices you make and how you deal with each situation. If it means bringing a six-pack of Orange Crush, do it! Don’t become a part of the huge percentage of underage drinkers and smokers. Stay safe and responsible.