The Meadows is a sponsor of the Wickenburg High School Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night Party that is being held on Friday, May 25 at the high school cafeteria. The Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night Party was started to create an alcohol and drug free, safe environment for the students to celebrate after the high school graduation ceremony.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2005 during prom and grad season (April, May, June), 676 students under the age of 21 were killed in alcohol-related traffic accidents. One third of the alcohol-related fatalities involving teens each year occur during those months.
“We are very pleased to support the Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night Party,” said Jim Dredge, the CEO of The Meadows. “We applaud the efforts of both the Wickenburg High School and the parents in focusing on the safety of the students while providing a memorable event.”
Jackie Jacobson, Principal of Wickenburg High School, said that the Safe and Sober Senior Grand Night Party is a tradition at their school that the parents take very seriously as they plan and execute the entire event. “The objective is to keep the students safe and make sure they’re not in the desert or at someone’s house making very poor choices,” commented Jacobson. “The event has been wildly successful with a 90% attendance rate.”
Sergeant Owen Black of the Wickenburg Police Department said that while the police provide outside security at the party, they take a very small role as it is managed by the senior class parents. “It’s an amazing thing that they do. It provides a safe environment for the kids to celebrate where there are no drugs or alcohol,” expressed Sergeant Black. He commented that during the time the safe and sober format began, which he thinks was in 1984, he is not aware of any major incident from a drug-related issue at graduation.
The party goes all night from 10:00pm to 4:00am with prizes and activities, including a money machine where students spend a few minutes trying to catch money floating in the air. The parents monitor the comings and goings of every student, taking their keys and having them sign in and out. The gifts are distributed at the end of the event as an incentive for the students to remain at the party.
The organizer of the Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night Party, Annette Roberts, said that all students leave with a gift. This year there are approximately 170 students. In the past, the parent committee would buy televisions, computers, anything that the students could use for college. “This year may be a little different with more students participating, along with the economic conditions,” said Roberts. “With more graduates, it’s harder to buy gifts.”
The parent committee will accept donations through May 25. Last year, according to Roberts, $18,000 was raised. At present, the committee has raised $8,000 through various fundraising events. For more information on how to donate to the Safe and Sober Senior Grad Night Party, please contact Annette Roberts at 928.671.0312 or Lori Hancock at 928.684.9434.
The Meadows is an industry leader in treating trauma and addiction through its inpatient and workshop programs. To learn more about The Meadows’ work with trauma and addiction contact an intake coordinator at (866) 856-1279 or visit www.themeadows.com.
For over 35 years, The Meadows has been a leading trauma and addiction treatment center. In that time, they have helped more than 20,000 patients in one of their three centers or in national workshops.The Meadows world-class team of Senior Fellows, Psychiatrists, Therapists and Counselors treat the symptoms of addiction and the underlying issues that cause lifelong patterns of self-destructive behavior. The Meadows, with 24 hour nursing and on-site physicians and psychiatrists, is a Level 1 psychiatric hospital that is accredited by the Joint Commission.
