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Spring Break 09

By: Shauna Lanea, Feature Writer

Thoughts of relaxing or having fun during Spring Break is on every one’s mind. However, this time of year brings opportunities for teens to make choices that are potentially dangerous. Spring Break parties and trips all pose situations where teens need to make choices. Alcohol use is a complex issue in that it is influenced by cultural, family and community traditions. The fact that it is legal for adults and illegal for those under 21 further complicates how families deal with it.  Alcohol use can have unintended and harmful consequences for not only the teens but family and friends as well.

Teens can even be at risk when they stay at home during the break by themselves. Unsupervised time, money to spend, and peer pressure to “let loose” can be a recipe for risky behaviors, including drug use. Now a days, teens think they are invincible, but we all know that they are not. The best precautions are reminding them of the risks of alcohol, sexual activity, sunburn, date rape, vandalism and more. There are plenty of ways for teens to experience Spring Break in the fun way. It is important to know that teens are encouraged to develop their independence but that independence comes with responsibilities. Keep in mind to indulge in activities that won’t be the cause of your parent’s high blood pressure!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 2:05 pm and is filed under Decisions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.