The Leaving Certificate results will be announced today (Friday) and the HSE is encouraging parents to help their children plan for safe celebrations. Having worked hard over the last number of years many students will want celebrate their achievements, which can be a worrying for parents.
The HSE advises parents to have a brief, focused conversation about personal safety and alcohol and drug use with young people prior to their exam celebrations. If alcohol is part of their celebrations the advice is to plan ahead, monitor and minimise alcohol intake, stay safe and avoid drugs.
Professor Bobby Smyth, HSE Adolescent Addiction Psychiatrist says, “Receiving Leaving Certificate results is the culmination of years of hard work for students. It is a joyous time and it is only natural that many will want to celebrate this great achievement.
“To help students celebrate safely we are asking parents to play their part by having a conversation with their children around the risks of alcohol and drugs. Also, if there is travel involved to make themselves available for lifts or help with organising taxis. We wish every student the best of luck with their results.”
Some tips for parents to share with young people for safe celebrations are:
Know the plan. Find out where they are going and who with. Ask them to make sure their phone is fully charged so that they can contact family, friends or emergency services if something happens.
Making choices. If choosing to drink alcohol, advise them not to drink on an empty stomach, take extra care with home-made drinks that can be a lot stronger, pick lower strength drinks, and stay hydrated by having non-alcohol or soft drinks or water for every second drink. Remind them that mixing alcohol and drugs, including prescription medicine, can have unpredictable or dangerous effects.
Look after your friends. Talking about other people helps young people to be aware of their own safety too. Tell them to never leave a party alone or let their friends go home alone. Ideally, they should try stay in groups of 3 or more.
Make a plan for getting home safely. Make yourself available for drop-offs or pick-ups. Warn them not to drive after taking drink or drugs and to never take a lift from someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Be aware of the dangers of walking home or cycling under the influence, especially on poorly lit roads.
The HSE’s webpage Information for parents about young people has lots more tips on how to have conversations about alcohol and drugs.
Of course alcohol does not necessarily have to go hand-in-hand with celebrations and many young people now choose not to drink. If alcohol is part of your celebrations the advice is to plan ahead, monitor and minimise your alcohol intake and stay safe and avoid drugs.
