FORT SILL, Okla.-- Mystery pill popping, binge drinking, and sexually transmitted diseases at teen parties were just a few of the shocking revelations future commanders and parents learned about at the Reality Party April 17.
Reality parties are part of the Army Community Service Child Abuse Prevention Awareness campaign in April.
There were three parties and participants were volunteer actors and students from the Lawton School of Arts and Sciences. They demonstrated what kinds of things happen at teen parties like the increase in the use of prescription pills, illicit drug usage, underage and binge drinking and sexual assaults are all possible at teen parties.
"Parents got a look at what's really happening when their kids go over to a friend's house to 'hang out' or have a party at their home," said Leslie Watts, Family Advocacy Program prevention specialist at ACS. "Underage drinking is a scary reality so we went to great lengths to make the April 17 party as true to life as possible, so parents and the commanders who took the tour understood what is at stake if they choose to allow kids or young Soldiers to drink at their home," she said.
Parents attending the reality party got an honest and brutal look at what can, and often does, happen at teen drinking parties. Sometimes, these parties are even hosted by parents.
"From drinking games, to raiding pills from the medicine cabinet and brutal fights, the teens don't pull any punches when it comes to showing parents what can happen when they furnish alcohol to kids," said Watts, who hopes the event will not only convince parents not to provide alcohol to teens, but to also go a step further. "They have to take reasonable steps to make sure the parties aren't taking place. Lock up their liquor supplies and make sure the parents are supervising teen parties."
Watts said the reality parties were a wake-up call to parents and commanders in training of what could happen when children age 12 and older hang out at these parties.
There was a question and answer portion after the tour with subject matter experts.
"Some of the answers were shocking and hard to believe but they are the people who know what really happens and what pitfalls and dangers await our kids and young Soldiers who might be sheltered or naïve," said Watts. "We know parents want to be the best possible parent they can be but sometimes they are not aware of what is happening at teen parties. These parties educated them with the most current, relevant information on what can happen when teens are in an altered state."
According to subject matter experts, not understanding the law is not an excuse and parents who allow these parties to occur in their house or let their children attend can be liable in Oklahoma for serving or allowing alcohol or drugs to be provided to minors.
For those at the parties the ramifications could include jail time. The social host law deals with the liability of a person who supplies liquor to a guest. Under this law, the host shares the liability incurred as a result of actions by an intoxicated guest to whom he or she has served liquor.
Watts thanked Fort Sill's partner the Lawton Wichita Mountains Prevention Network for helping make the parties realistic. For more information, call Watts at 442-3779.
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