By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer
Enid News and Eagle
ENID —
Youth Opportunity Task Force Drug and Alcohol Subcommittee and PreventionWorkz APRC are hosting the third Reality Party, a home tour portraying a teen drinking party, Aug. 27 north of Enid.
The party is portrayed by local teen actors from church youth groups, Kingfisher’s Teens Awareness Group, Teens Need Teens and Gaslight Teens. The actors will act out scenes that could happen at a teen drinking party, including drinking games that encourage young people to drink dangerous amounts of alcohol in a short period of time, sexual promiscuity and law enforcement involvement.
The Reality Party’s mission is to educate parents about teen drinking because many adults believe drinking is a rite of passage and think drinking and parties are the same as when they were young, said Tammy Grantz, executive director of PreventionWorkz APRC.
The Reality Party helps parents face the realities and learn why and how adults can change dangerous social norms.
“Our main purpose is to educate parents of the dangers of underage drinking, teen drinking parties and providing alcohol. They may think there is going to be some alcohol at a party but they don’t know what really goes on. We want to open their eyes,” Grantz said.
The Reality Party’s target audience is parents of children junior high and high school age. The tour is only open to adults; it is not intended for children or teens.
“All of the parents who have gone through it said it was worth their time and very eye opening. They said they wish their friends were there, too, to be educated,” Grantz said.
Tours start at 5 p.m. and run every 25 minutes through 9 p.m. Following the tour, participants will be given the opportunity to attend a debriefing to talk with law enforcement and counselors about what they saw and experienced. The tour lasts about 25 minutes and the debriefing lasts 10 to 15 minutes.
Reservations for the tour can be made by calling 233-7220.
