The Dangers of Halloween Are Spooky: How to Stay Safe at a Halloween Party

 “A designated driver is always a smart thing to have. Also, you can never bring too much water with you. It’s a terrible and dangerous to be dehydrated at a party,” said junior Alec McAulay. Alcohol poisoning is one of the leading causes of teen deaths, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Staying hydrated will help lesser the consequences of underaged drinking, but not prevent them.
“A designated driver is always a smart thing to have. Also, you can never bring too much water with you. It’s a terrible and dangerous thing to be dehydrated at a party,” said junior Alec McAulay. Alcohol poisoning and car accidents are two of the leading causes of teen deaths, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The best idea is to have fun without drinking alcohol.

As the end of October approaches, everyone starts to make preparations for the scariest holiday of the year with candy and costumes. Since most kids in high school don’t go Trick-or-Treating anymore, their preparations may include just buying candy, figuring out which scary movies to watch, or getting ready for a Halloween party. Although the movies and costumes may deliver a scare, the most terrifying part of the holiday could be the dangers of a Halloween party.

“I go to parties at least once a month; it depends on who’s [hosting it]. I go because they’re fun and I like going to them. Also, it gives my friends and [I] something to do if there’s nothing better to do,” said senior Oliver Serrano.

Everything’s more fun with friends. Having someone to share a laugh with will always be better than experiencing things alone. Not only will having a buddy enhance your experience, it’s also safer to have them along. At parties, especially big ones, it’s easy to get caught in a crowd or get lost if you’re not familiar with the house or area. In the risk of getting caught in a dangerous situation such as a fight or a situation where you feel threatened, having people you know to help you cool down the situation or stay clear of situations that could be dangerous will be the safest bet.

“Having friends you can trust that will be with you at the party is a good idea in case something happens. It’s also smart to have a change of clothes in the car in case you need it,” said senior Spencer Goldberg.

The risk of driving under the influence is something that should never be taken lightly. There is no positive outcome to that situation because it’s a danger to both the driver and those around them. If you’re going to attend a party, it’s possible that you’ll be put in a position dealing with drugs and/or alcohol. The safest bet is to not do them. It’s smart to keep the risk of alcohol poisoning, parental trouble, and legal trouble in mind.

“You can definitely have fun at a party if you aren’t under the influence. All you’ve gotta do is dance to the music and hang out with your friends,” said senior Addison Lampert.

Compared to the D.A.R.E. videos you may have watched in elementary school, peer pressure is a lot more different than what you may think. Some students even say it’s non-existent because nobody really cares about whether or not you want to do drugs.

“This generation is pretty educated when it comes to the risks involved with drugs and alcohol. The people who do them are completely aware of the risks, so it’s easy for them to understand why other people wouldn’t want to partake in that kind of stuff. Peer pressure is portrayed a lot worse than it is because a simple, ‘Nah, I’m good’ is all you’ve gotta say if someone offers you a hit or a shot and you don’t want it. Nobody is going to force you to drink or smoke because drugs cost money and the idea of that kind of false peer pressure is dumb,” said junior Alec McAulay.

Hosting a party is also a big risk. Having people you don’t know inside your house is a scary thing to think about, and having your party busted by the police is what makes every host nervous.

“There’s a lot of risks to throwing a party that some people don’t think about. Your stuff could get broken or stolen. Your parents could catch you if you aren’t supposed to be throwing a party, the police could get you in trouble, people may not leave when you need them to, and if someone gets hurt, it could turn into your responsibility,” said Goldberg.

If you’re looking to have fun on Halloween, going to a party is a great option. Staying safe at these parties will become second-nature as long as you remember to stick with people you trust and stay away from situations that are dangerous or that you are uncomfortable with.

By Sagar Samuel, Personality Perfectionist