Summer is just around the corner and as the school year-end approaches, undoubtedly, Grey County teens will be attending graduation and end-of-the-year prom parties in the coming weeks. Will it be an alcohol and drug free party?

If alcohol and/or drugs are involved, it's quite possible the party may get out of control leading to situations where teens and young adults expose themselves to unnecessary risks, both legal and health related.

Youth who drink alcohol are at a higher risk of harm compared to adults due to their inexperience and lower tolerance. Quite often decisions made under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs lead to dangerous situations that can cause serious injury and death.

Grey County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is warning all parents and caregivers of the inherent dangers of attending and/or hosting after-prom parties. Property owners can and have been held civilly responsible for injuries sustained to persons on their property.

Police want to make it very clear that unsupervised after-prom parties and/or "field parties" are unsafe environments for anyone. Police are often called to investigate criminal reports of assault, drug and alcohol offences, sexual assaults, thefts, mischief and other related crimes stemming from these types of parties.

Police are encouraging parents and caregivers to speak with young people about the associated dangers of attending such events and find alternative activities for them to partake in.

For those who choose to attend or host one of these parties - they should be prepared for an increase in police presence as officers will be aggressively enforcing the law to ensure our youth enjoy these gatherings in a safe and responsible manner.

Everyone has a part to play in community safety, and it is our hope that anyone with information on suspected field parties or unsupervised after-prom parties will contact their local police or the OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Information and tips on how to host a safe grad party can be found at www.safegrad.com and www.madd.ca.

source: media release, Grey County OPP