HSE urges safe celebrations as Leaving Cert students get set to receive results

With thousands of students set to receive their Leaving Certificate results, the HSE is encouraging parents to help students plan for safe celebrations. Having put a lot of time, effort, and dedication into their exams over the last few years, students will want to celebrate their achievements, which can be daunting for parents.

The HSE is advising parents to have a brief, focused conversation about drug and alcohol use with young people prior to their exam celebrations. Should alcohol play a part in their celebrations the HSE is advising to plan ahead, keep track of and minimise alcohol intake, keep safe and avoid drugs.

Emer Loughrey, Senior Addiction Counsellor, HSE says:

“Firstly we want to wish every student the best ahead of receiving their results, and we congratulate them on what is a huge achievement.

“Prior to any celebrations, we are asking parents to be mindful and to plan ahead with young people. This can involve having conversations around staying safe, and the risks of consuming alcohol and drugs. In addition, if there is travel involved, be available for drop-offs and pick-ups or make alternative travel arrangements.”

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: remember it’s illegal for under 18s to drink alcohol and young brains continue to develop until about the age of 25. It’s best to avoid alcohol for as long as possible. Don’t supply alcohol to anyone under 18, in your home or anywhere else. 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 of 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. Remember it’s illegal for under 18s to drink alcohol and young brains continue to develop until about the age of 25. It’s best to avoid alcohol for as long as possible. Don’t supply alcohol to anyone under 18, in your home or anywhere else.