NORTH VANCOUVER – Graduating from high school is something a lot of teens are looking forward to for years, but North Vancouver RCMP say the latest trend of “pre-graduation” bush parties may be putting lives in jeopardy.
It is a pretty recent phenomenon that has kids gathering in local parks near high schools over the long weekend before school starts.
Cpl. Richard De Jong with North Vancouver RCMP says it’s become somewhat of a tradition for students to celebrate entering their last year of school.
And there is usually a lot of drinking involved.
While Mounties have been seeing this type of unsanctioned activity for years, last year was when things got really ugly.
The RCMP had to deal with 19 separate incidents stemming from these “pre-graduation” assemblies in North Vancouver alone.
They’ve had to seize a large amount of booze and issue a number of tickets for possession to minors. But it did not end there.
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The grand tally included fights, an assault with a weapon, a robbery, drug possession, and mischief to residential and school properties.
A number of people had to get medical treatment. One person was so intoxicated, he could not be roused by the paramedics and had to be hospitalized. Officers also had to extinguish a large bonfire that was dangerously close to several residences.
“This behavior is perhaps based on good intentions and they are thinking they are just having fun, but when alcohol and drugs become a big part of that, their decision making ability is really impacted,” says De Jong.
“The fights, the drunkenness, the health and safety risks, they play into that. You just hope and pray that no one gets killed or suffers serious consequences when it was supposed to be a celebration of graduation.”
While Mounties would not disclose the details of how they plan to fight this type of behaviour this weekend, De Jong says they will be out in full force, monitoring youth gatherings near high schools, parks and bushes.
He says parents can play a huge role and need to talk to their kids about the negative consequences that come with being under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the middle of nowhere.
“They can be finding themselves in the environment where emergency services can’t even get to them. Last year, they were so far into the bush that it was hard for even our guys to get to them,” says De Jong.
He says another danger lies in teens’ inability to control the situation when impaired.
“When young girls, and guys for that matter, find themselves under the influence, and they are taken advantage of sexually, and that can totally alter somebody’s high school years.”
De Jong says North Vancouver school district is standing behind the RCMP on their campaign, and will be issuing a similar notice to their students ahead of the long weekend.
Twitter: @yulst.
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