Party Goer
personal safety
“Trust Your Instincts”
Everyone enjoys going to or hosting a social event. While most social events are fun for everyone involved, intoxicated or uninvited guests can sometimes ruin the occasion. We want you to be as safe as possible when you are the host, as well as when you are the guest.
Threats to Your Good Time
Current threats to your good time:
- Unsolicited drugs may be dropped into your drink such as rohypnol, GHB/GLB, and ecstasy. These drugs are colorless, tasteless and odorless and are behavior altercates. They lead to a feeling of disorientation, a false intoxication where a person feels as if he/she had more to drink than he/she thinks.
- Drugs may be used before, after, or during your event. Drugs such as ketamine, inhalants and cocaine can alter the way your guests are behaving so be aware.
Possible Penalties of Drug Detection
Possible penalties if an officer arrives and the use of illegal drugs is detected:
- Be aware of the penalties campus and law enforcement authorities can and will take if you possess, use, make, and/or distribute alcohol or elicit drugs.
- Penalties vary, based on campus policy and on the laws that govern certain substances. Campus penalties may range from verbal or written reprimands to suspension or expulsion from the school.
- You can be fined and/or put in prison for prosecution of a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the nature of the offense. For example, conviction of possessing or using cocaine, heroin, or even GHB could put you in prison for up to 20 years. If you give GHB to someone else and that person dies, you could be convicted of manslaughter. If you are of legal drinking age and give alcohol to a minor and it causes death, you could be convicted of a felony that carries a 10 year prison sentence.
- Familiarize yourself with the Policies & Laws and avoid unwanted consequences.
Tips on How to Protect Yourself
Before the event:
- Use the buddy system: Make sure you and your guests are aware that everyone that comes together, leaves together, no matter how much the individual protests.
- Establish a signal or code word with other members of your committee, security, or organizations to help you out in an awkward situation.
- Personally set limits and help your friends set limits to the amount of alcohol that they will consume and make sure to stick with them.
During the social event:
- Trust your instincts! Keep an eye about your surroundings to see what is occurring around you.
- Look out for your guests as well as your friends.
- Don’t be afraid to interrupt or to make a scene.
- Hold your friend’s drink as well as encourage your guests to look after their friend’s drinks when he or she has to leave the drink.
After the social event:
- Leave together, even if you have to stay after for clean up.
- Have your keys ready when you are going to get into your car (only if you have not been drinking).
The tips above have been excerpted and modified from the WRRC handout “How to Help a Friend: Party Safely.”
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