Party Safety is an initiative filled with information and resources surrounding how young people can still enjoy the experience of partying without the risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse.
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Drug and Alcohol Issues in Young Australians |
Negative Effects of Alcohol |
House parties of extravagant sizes are becoming more and more popular within today’s society, particularly between ages 13-17. Partying safely isn’t limited to educating teens on how to socialise with friends instead it extends to dealing with drug use, alcohol consumption, sexual health and especially peer pressure. In 2011 over three per cent of Australian secondary students had tried amphetamines or ecstasy, over sixteen per cent had tried breathing in inhalants and a shocking 1.5 per cent had used heroin (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2011). In 2013 another National Drug Strategy Household Survey was implemented with even more shocking numbers and statistics arising. According to the survey 3.7 per cent of Australians in the age bracket of 13-17 smoked tobacco daily, 8.7 per cent were exceeding the suggested number of standard drinks more than once a month and roughly 14.8 per cent had tried cannabis with alcohol, cannabis and tobacco being the three most commonly used drugs among young Australians (AIHW, 2013). The numbers don’t seem that high until you sit back and think about how there are more than 24.6 million people in Australia and just imagine how many of them are between 13-17 years old (Worldometers, 2019). From the statistics above it is clear that there is a rising trend of drug and alcohol abuse among teens.
Dangerous PartyingSo what happens at these parties? Partying always seems to come with a negative connotation but there are so many positive aspects that seem to be forgotten. When at a party you are brought together with close friends, people you haven’t seen in a while or sometimes new friends are made, whilst being surrounded by a fun atmosphere (State Government of Victoria, 2018). Parties can be fun and also safe but the level of safety can be reduced and level of risk can be increased when alcohol and drugs are involved (State Government of Victoria, 2018). Parties where drugs and alcohol are evident can lead to dangerous situations such as (State Government of Victoria, 2018):
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Why does it matter if students are drinking excessive amounts of alcohol when adults do so? Whilst being in your mid-twenties it has been proven from scientific studies that your brain is still under development. Drinking alcohol affects the brain of young people and can cause severe damage whilst it is still developing which can lead to problems in the future (State Government of Victoria, 2018). Other studies have also shown that most adults drink casually for social reasons whilst the trend amongst teenagers is binge drinking as their only intention is to become drunk (State Government of Victoria, 2018).
Partying SafelyHow can you stay safe at parties when there are so many dangerous situations that can occur? Here are some simple tips for staying safe (State Government of Victoria, 2018):
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The negative effects of alcohol and drugs are outweighing the positive perception that used to surround partying. Students need to be aware of these negative and dangerous situations that they will be putting themselves in. They also need to be provided with advice on how to party safely and how to help those around them that don't party safely.