Aussie teens urged to take extra care at parties, schoolies after Covid

As young Aussies resume their social ‘rites of passage’ after Covid, these are the party safety tips every teen and their parents should read.

Australian teens who have missed out on social “rites of passage” due to Covid restrictions are being urged to take extra care as they debut on the party scene.

Four in 10 teenagers reported the pandemic had harmed their social connectedness in an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report into the nation’s youth.

Jackie Hallan, director of service at youth support service ReachOut, says it’s positive young people can now socialise more freely – but “parties that involve alcohol, drugs and late nights, as many do, increase the chances of risky behaviour”.

Planning for before, during and after a social event can help partygoers avoid trouble, St John Ambulance Victoria community program officer Chantelle Marshall says.

This is the premise of St John Ambulance Victoria’s Party Ready – a new statewide program teaching Year 9 and 10 students about potential dangers at parties and “harm minimisation” techniques.

Marshall says this age group has crucially “missed that face-to-face interaction for the first two years of high school” due to Covid, particularly in Victoria.

But party preparedness is important for all ages, including school-leavers about to embark on schoolies and then attend university.

“Realistically, kids are going to experiment, they are going to be exposed to drugs and alcohol,” says Marshall, who has a 14-year-old daughter.

“If they don’t have that confidence to say no, we need to provide them with knowledge.”

St John Ambulance Victoria community program officer and Party Ready co-ordinator Chantelle Marshall.

PARTY PLANNING

Advice imparted by Party Ready includes arriving at a party with a full stomach of food, a plan for getting home safely and “a trusted friend so you can look out for each other”.

Marshall also teaches teens physical and mental first aid techniques – including the recovery position, which she says can “save lives if they have friends who are intoxicated”.

While at a party, she advises her students to drink water, eat, and keep an eye on their friends and their drinks. “If you open any sort of drink and leave it, throw it out and get something fresh,” she adds.

With harm minimisation in mind, Marshall recommends the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s free and anonymous text service, in which people can text the official or street name of any drug to 0439 TELL ME (0439 835 563) for instant information about the effects, how long it will last, what an overdose looks like and tips for reducing risk.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

If teen partygoers feel they can’t handle a situation – whether it be related to drugs, alcohol, violence, mental health, sexual assault and so on – they should get help from an adult or call triple-0.

“Teenagers are often scared of calling an ambulance because they think they might get in trouble,” Marshall says. “But they shouldn’t be afraid to call for help.”

Hallan says parents and carers could make their kids feel comfortable about approaching them by engaging in “calm, non-judgmental (and) open communication” with them before they go to a party.

“Let your teen know that they can call you at any time if they are worried or if something goes wrong,” she says.

“If they do call you, support them and save the follow-up conversations for the next day.”

RED FLAGS

After suffering physical and mental distress while on methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at a DJ gig earlier this year, Jessica (we have chosen to not use her surname), did some research.

She learned the illicit substance could exacerbate anxiety and did not mix well with antidepressant medication – factors that should have been red flags for her.

“I didn’t make an informed decision,” the 23-year-old says.

“I had a gut instinct that something was going to go wrong, because I’m an anxious person, but I chose to ignore it. It wasn’t the best idea.”

Jessica also made the mistake of taking a second pill after the first didn’t kick in fast enough, leading to her experience heightened anxiety, claustrophobia, hot flushes and a panic attack, and vomiting.

Thankfully, a St John Ambulance Victoria volunteer was on hand to help by giving Jessica calming medication and supporting her through what was “the worst experience of my life”.

“A lot of young people want to experience drugs, I get it. But they can be harmful,” she says.

“It’s really important to be aware of what you’re taking and your own headspace, make sure you’re also with somebody you trust and in an environment where you can be comfortable.”

TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE

• If you’re hosting, don’t publicly post details like when and where on social media. Consider registering your party with the police.

• Arrive at the party with a full stomach, a plan to get home and ideally, first aid knowledge.

• Pair up with a trusted friend so you can look out for each other at the party.

• Keep an eye on your drink and if you leave it unattended, tip it out and get a new one to avoid spiking.

• If you don’t have the confidence to say no to drugs and alcohol, drink lots of water, eat and have a friend looking out for you. Text the official or street name of any drug to 0439 TELL ME (0439 835 563) for instant information about the effects, how long it will last, what an overdose looks like and tips for reducing risk.

• Place any friends who are badly intoxicated into the recovery position.

• If someone is threatening physical violence, use de-escalation techniques: get them away from other people, speak to them calmly, try to get them to drink water and sit down, call for help if needed.

• If you don’t feel like you can deal with a situation seek help from an adult or call 000.

• At the end of the night, check in with friends to ensure they arrived home safely.

Source: St John Ambulance Victoria community program officer Chantelle Marshall