Grad season safety warning

Cooper says pit parties are a long-standing concern. Unattended fires, big groups in remote places, and easy access to alcohol and drugs make for a dangerous mix. She adds that while this problem has always existed during grad season, the opioid crisis has made the risks even greater.

“It’s probably a tale as old as time,” Cooper said. “Even when I graduated, there were some deaths and overdoses that happened at these pit parties. And it continues to happen now with the opioid crisis and the availability and maybe our laid-back attitude towards some of these recreational or illicit drugs.”

Cooper wants grads to know that telling their parents where a party is happening isn’t snitching. Calling for help if someone might be overdosing is not snitching either.

“It’s not snitching to call for an ambulance if you think someone’s having an overdose,” she said. “We need to make sure that those things are being taken care of.”

She is also warning students about grad challenges spreading online, like senior water gun assassination games, which can get out of hand quickly and attract police attention.

Cooper says parents should talk openly and without judgment with their grads now about alcohol, drugs, and what to do in an emergency. She encourages young people to use a buddy system and to remember it is always okay to call a parent or the authorities if things get out of control.

“We want to make sure we’re looking out for everybody’s fun, but everybody’s safety at the same time,” Cooper said.

For Prince George families going through grad season, the RCMP say that being prepared and keeping the lines of communication open are the best ways to stay safe.

by Dave Branco

Grad season safety warning

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