They've listened to the message: Don't drink and drive.
They've seen the commercial: This is your brain. Splat! Sizzle! This is your brain on drugs.
They've known for years that: Friends don't let friends drive drunk.
But are they heeding these sobriety messages?
Lots of anecdotal and some qualitative evidence says yes.
"We've been doing the after-prom alternative parties for four years although we've been doing prom awareness for years," says Michael Gimbel, director of Baltimore County's Office of Substance Abuse. "The number of parties has grown from four the first year to 17 this year."
More teens do seem to be skipping the customary after-prom booze binges as the number of alcohol- and drug-free parties at homes, schools and local restaurants increase.
Parental pressure and activism are playing major roles in the change. And coordinators have figured out how to gear the parties to kids' tastes and entice them into attending -- big-ticket door prizes have proven effective. But whatever the reasons, alcohol- and drug-free parties are growing in popularity with students.
In Ellicott City, one teen is throwing a house party at which she insists neither alcohol nor drugs will be allowed. "They can not come if they are drunk or getting high," says 16-year-old Sydney Lewis, the party host.
"We feel that if you need alcohol to change, you must be a really boring person," says friend Liz Fort, 16.
"It's become more acceptable as the way to celebrate, the 'in' thing," says Joyce Brown, Howard County government's substance-abuse coordinator. "They are not just going because their parents say, 'Don't drink and drive,' " she says. "They are going because the parties are fun."
A group of Loch Raven High School seniors who plan on attending an alcohol- and drug-free party next week agree.
"Good prizes," says Tiffani Tucker, 17, explaining the major attraction -- door prizes that include items such as CD players.
"That's what draws us," agreed Mary Edwards, 18. "And the 'grub.' "
"It's just fun," says 18-year-old Amber Marcum.
Another plus for students is the cost. The parties are free. "Oh yeah," says David Tapper, an 18-year-old student at Franklin High School. "That was the major incentive."
But alcohol isn't always at issue when kids decide what to do after the prom. David says he attended his school's alcohol- and drug-free after-prom party because it's the party his friends chose to attend.
And Franklin High student Noah Egorin, who doesn't drink, says a substance-free party was a natural for him. "I'm not the type who would go over to somebody's house and drink and sit and watch movies anyway," Noah says.
Getting them there
Mostly, though, adults say it's a challenge getting teens to choose alcohol- and drug-free parties sanctioned by both parents and schools.
"It really took every waking minute that first year to convince kids to come," says Amy Deutschendorf, a parent who helps coordinate after-prom parties. Mrs. Deutschendorf has a son who graduated from Owings Mills and a daughter who will enter high school in the fall.
Barbara Rhodes, a party coordinator with a son attending Franklin High School, attributes the success of her parties to a lot of footwork and gentle cajoling. Mrs. Rhodes and a few other parents spoke to students at a general assembly about the parties and made classroom visits.
Offering a carrot
They also asked some students to join the party committee. "I asked them to tell us what they would like to eat, what game prizes they wanted. Before, the kids hadn't felt involved," Mrs. Rhodes says.
To draw these teens and others to the alcohol- and drug-free parties, the adults know they must offer a "carrot."
"I tell them, 'I'm going to invite you to a party, and it's free, and you will be able to win prizes," she says.
The prizes are big carrots. Parents and coordinators have been successful getting local businesses, government agencies and organizations to donate money and substantial prizes for the parties. Local businesses have donated televisions, word processors, CD players, $1,000 savings bonds and other enticements.
Baltimore County Fire Fighters Local 1311 recently donated $2,500 to the after-prom parties. The money was divided among the county's 17 schools, says Mr. Gimbel. (In Baltimore County, his office keeps track of the number of schools, public and private, that are sponsoring parties and the activities.)
The big prizes are given out at the end of the party, and the teens have to be there to claim them. "If they leave the party, they can't come back in," explains Mrs. Deutschendorf. "Obviously, we don't want students going out to drink and then )) coming back in."
Some socially conscious area businesses have also jumped on the wagon. One Ellicott City restaurant is opening its doors at midnight tomorrow for students who attend Howard County's Centennial High School prom. "We do it for Mount Hebron and Centennial kids because those are the two schools in the community," says Kim Sheridan, co-owner of the Olive Branch restaurant with her husband, Jim.
The Sheridans have opened their restaurant to prom students for the past three years. "We get a pretty good turn-out, usually over a hundred people," she says.
Some will drink
Even with these successes to report, it's evident that teens have not forsaken alcohol completely.
Some kids at Centennial admit alcohol will be readily available at prom parties going on this weekend.
"It's not that we all drink every single day," says Valerie Lough, 17. "But this is prom night."
Erika Hockycko, 18, says parents aren't happy their children are drinking. "Our parents would prefer that we not do it at all. But if we do, they don't want us to drive around drunk," Erika says.
These teens are paying for hotel rooms to hold after-prom parties. Most will spend the night.
Still others admit to conflicting feelings about the parties.
"I guess I have mixed emotions," says Ashton Newhall, who attends St. Paul's School.
"Partly I want to go [to the alcohol/drug-free party on his school's campus] because it's a good time and a lot of fun. At the same time, I think it could be just as much fun at a party held at someone's house."
A few of his classmates, he adds, will attend a house party after the one held on campus. But at least if these teens drink, he says, they won't be on the road driving.
"The parents will have accomplished what they wanted to up to that point -- keeping the kids sober and off the road," Ashton says. "The three or four people who are going to a party are spending the night at that person's house."
Over at Towson High School, parents are getting ready for their first after-prom party after hearing a pitch from Mr. Gimbel and his staff.
"We talked to other schools that have done it to see what was the draw," says Diane Poole, one of that school's coordinators.
"For us it's a total challenge," Mrs. Poole says. "We really don't know who is going to show up or how many. But it's a great opportunity to show the kids that they can have a great time without alcohol."
After the party's over . . .
In Baltimore County, the Office of Substance Abuse coordinates the alcohol- and drug-free parties but no umbrella agency coordinates the parties for most area school districts.
"Each school does something different," explains April Lewis, a drug-prevention facilitator for the Baltimore City school system. For example, a school may hold a pre-prom reception teaching students about substance abuse.
In Harford County, at least three schools are planning substance-free prom activities, two on a cruise and one on a campground.
In Anne Arundel County, most of the schools hold a post-prom breakfast in the wee hours of the morning, says Kenneth E. Nichols, the acting director of senior high schools in Anne Arundel.
High schools in Howard County independently plan alcohol- and drug-free after-prom activities, Ms. Brown says. "I would say 90 percent of our kids are actually going to these," she says.
The counties are all involved in the national "Prom Promise" program.
When students make a "Prom Promise," they voluntarily sign a pledge not to drink or do drugs that night. But even those who are not into alcohol or drugs doubt the "Prom Promise" is very effective.
"Actually, it's pretty stupid," says Alison Kogan, a Centennial High School student. "Can you imagine standing around, someone hands someone a beer. Then that person says, 'Wait! I can't! I signed the 'Prom Promise!' It wouldn't happen."