Prom: Should not be the last celebration of their lives

In the months ahead, parents will be getting ready for a very special day in the lives of their teenagers - the high school prom. Moved by the emotion and excitement of seeing their

sons and daughters graduating, it is easy to forget about guiding them through the potential risks of this special night - especially being influenced to consume alcohol or to use drugs during the various celebrations.

Overwhelmed with their children's achievements and plans to send them onward to college, some tend to think that their work as parents is done and that their involvement in their children's lives will be reduced or even nonexistent, since adolescents tend to think they can walk with their own feet now.

In fact, it is exactly the opposite. This moment in your teen's maturing process requires more attention than ever, because the influence of peers and friends is so much stronger now, not to mention the environment full of temptations that surrounds them.

The preoccupation with buying beautiful clothing for the prom, organizing a party or allowing them to go to a friend's celebration are all details that every parent of a graduating student finds important; and of course, they are. Nonetheless, parents must remember to add to that special list a few questions, such as who the friends are, what is their character, where a party will be held, and whether or not the teenagers will be safe after leaving the house.

To be vigilant and to enforce appropriate boundaries is indispensable at this time. The incidence of underage drinking at prom parties has grown dramatically. For instance, an afterprom party was held on May 11 by the father of a graduate on his Cornwall, CT property.

More than 100 youths, ranging from 15 to 18 years old, showed up at the party and many of them were drinking. Three were taken to the hospital, including one who was unresponsive due to extreme intoxication.

Alerting our teens about the dangers of underage drinking will be more effective if we as parents embrace a role of responsibility. In the Cornwall case, if the party had not interrupted by the state police, there likely would have been headlines about fatalities resulting from underage drinking and driving.

I can only imagine the many parents that were calmly at home, waiting for their children to return from the celebratory activities, thinking that they were not only having a good time, but also safe from harm.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating our milestones in life; the problem is how we do so. Underage drinking is the number one cause of death for teens in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 5,000 people under 21 years old die of injuries caused by underage drinking. Each year, 5,000 individuals have their hopes and dreams interrupted by tragedies that likely could have been avoided.

I would like to tell our youth to remember how valuable they are to their families, friends, the schools they attend, their local communities and society at large, and above all, to God. Your prom party should be an occasion to celebrate, but you must keep your eyes open and your thoughts oriented toward your bright future.

Therefore, when returning home, if your ride has had a few drinks, or if you have had a few drinks and are driving, please - leave the car at the party and call your parents to pick you up, or ask someone who is sober to take you home. Do not allow your after-prom party to be the last celebration in your life!