Tewksbury High Receives Funding for Substance-Free, After-Prom and Graduation Events

Courtesy Photo: In this photograph, District Attorney Ryan presents a $500 check to students at Arlington High School to support the school’s efforts to host a substance-free party for teens. Tewksbury Memorial High School also received $500.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Wednesday that the District Attorney’s Office has provided $10,500 to 20 high schools across Middlesex County for substance-free after-prom and graduation events, including Tewksbury Memorial High School.

“Our goal is always to help school districts offer safe after prom and graduation activities so the memories teenagers will have of their parties, dances, and commencement will be about experiences which were enjoyable and safe,” said District Attorney Ryan in a statement issued Wednesday.

School districts which applied for and received $500 each from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office this year included Tewksbury Memorial High School.

Each year many teenagers are injured or killed in alcohol related traffic fatalities on prom and graduation nights. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15-19 and many of those deaths are caused by impaired or distracted driving. There are steps that parents and adults can take to encourage young people to make the right choices around drinking and driving.

Throughout the spring, District Attorney Ryan has spoken at school assemblies across the county to encourage teenagers to make “safe choices” when attending parties and other activities with their friends. District Attorney Ryan has also spoken to parents on the topic of “social host responsibility,” warning parents and caregivers about the dangers of serving underage drinkers.

Under the state’s Social Host Law, adults and minors can be punished for furnishing alcohol to a minor, with penalties including up to one year in jail and fines of up to $2,000. People who are charged with drinking and driving can also receive significant penalties. In Massachusetts, a first drunk driving offense may result in a license suspension, a fine of up to $5,000, and/or imprisonment of up to 30 months.

The “Social Host Responsibility” presentations are held at schools across the county by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY). MPY is a non-profit organization which provides prevention and intervention resources and training to school districts and communities in collaboration with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Ryan chairs the MPY Board of Directors.