RESPONSIBLE Partying & Risk taking
Partying & risk taking can go hand in hand and can affect all ages. Examples of partying include clubbing, attending a concert or festival, having a party at home or going to a party at a friend’s house. If you are informed about safe partying, you are more likely to protect yourself and your friends.
Things that can go wrong at teenage parties and clubs include:
General suggestions when partying
If you’re going out with friends to party, safety suggestions include:
Things that can go wrong at teenage parties and clubs include:
- Binge drinking
- Drink driving
- Unprotected sex
- Drug overdose
- Drink spiking
- Sexual assault
- Gatecrashing
- Fighting
- Injury
- Getting arrested.
- Talk to Naomi Oakley at Unome Security for any advice on Safe Partying.
General suggestions when partying
- Remember that you don’t have to use alcohol or other drugs to have fun.
- Eat well before you leave home. A full stomach slows the absorption of alcohol.
- Drink in moderation. Don’t let others top up your drinks and go for low alcohol options wherever possible.
- The best way to avoid drug-related problems is not to use at all. If you do, make sure you know what you’re taking and find out how to reduce the risks of overdose or injury.
- Trust your own judgement. Don’t let peer pressure sway you into doing anything you don’t want to do.
- Keep your wits about you and stay close to friends you trust.
- Take condoms with you if you think you might end up having sex – and use them.
- Don’t get into a car with a driver who has been drinking.
- Remember that your judgement may be impaired if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs – don’t take risks you may regret such as diving into water if you don’t know how deep it is or fooling around near swimming pools.
- Leave for somewhere safe if you feel unsafe at a venue or party.
If you’re going out with friends to party, safety suggestions include:
- Know where you’re going and how you’re getting there.
- Plan how to get home – for example, take enough money to share a taxi or nominate a driver to stay sober.
- Have a plan B to get home if plan A falls through – for example, ask someone’s parent if they will pick you up if you can’t get a taxi.
- Decide to stay together in a group and look after each other.
- Don’t leave drinks unattended and don’t accept a drink from a stranger. Don’t take your eyes off your drink.
- Decide on a drink limit and stick to it. Avoid ‘shouts’ or drinking games. You are likely to make silly or even dangerous decisions when you have had too much to drink.
- Remember that it is illegal to drink alcohol on the street or in a public place or to carry or use illicit drugs. You could be arrested and conviction may impact on your future employment or travel plans.
- Source Better Health Channel
Where to get help
- Your doctor
- Police, call triple zero (000)
- Ambulance, call triple zero (000)
- Emergency department of your nearest hospital
- Kids Helpline Tel. 1800 551 800
- DirectLine Tel. 1800 888 236 – for 24-hour confidential drug and alcohol telephone counselling, information and referral
- Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) Tel.1800 014 446 – for young people, 24-hour confidential drug and alcohol telephone counselling, information and referral
- DrugInfo Tel. 1300 85 85 84 – for information
- Family Planning Victoria Tel. 1800 013 952 or (03) 9257 0100
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Tel. (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017 or TTY (for the hearing impaired) (03) 9347 8619
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Tel. (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017
- Action Centre (for young people 25 and under) Tel: (03) 9654 4766 or 1800 013 952
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line and CASA Tel. 1800 806 292
- National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (Australia) Tel. 1800 737 732 – free telephone counselling hotline (24 hours, 7 days)
- 1800RESPECT – for real-time online counselling
- Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817
- Parentline Tel. 132 289
- Victoria Police Party Safe program – call your local police station
- Family Drug Help – for information and support for people concerned about a relative or friend using drugs Tel. 1300 660 068