Kicking back with friends, having a few drinks, hitting the clubs - it's all good, but it can turn terribly wrong in an instant. Here, the factors that lead to scary partying dangers... and how to protect yourself while having a great time.
Too often, young women who begin an evening in high spirits have it end in peril or even tragedy. They've been raped and/or killed by men they have left with or predators who spotted them alone on the street or in a parking lot. At the very least, they have woken up in the bed of a complete stranger and wondered how they got there. 'Going out partying has a number of aspects to it that are deceptively dangerous - that is, things you're probably not even aware of as serious threats but that really "up" your risk of getting hurt,' says former police officer and clincial associate law professor, Michael S. Scott. Of course, life should be fun, and going to parties with friends or checking out clubs and bars isn't a bad thing in itself. But it is important that you learn the key factors that can invite danger so that you can make smart decisions. Read up on the major categories of risk.
| Too Much Booze |
'The absolute biggest risk factor for young women going out is drinking too much,' says Scott. Not only can it make you less able to fight off an assailant, but you're also more likely to make impaired decisions. 'Getting drunk makes you think, "I can make it on my own. I can get home okay. I can go off with this person,"' Scott explains. Don't be fooled. |
| That Party Mind-Set |
| A Deadly Mix |