Partying Safely After Graduation in Grand Rapids, Michigan

In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, many high school graduates celebrate the end of school with big parties, weekend trips “up north,” or getaways to Lake Michigan towns like Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, and Muskegon. Whether you’re staying in Grand Rapids, heading to a lake house, or traveling out of state, planning ahead can help you celebrate safely and avoid emergencies.

This guide is tailored for Grand Rapids teens and young adults, with local resources and practical tips for staying safe with alcohol, drugs, sex, and social media.

Before You Go: Set Your Limits and Make a Plan

Decide your boundaries

Before the party or trip:

  • Think about your limits around:
    • Alcohol
    • Other drugs
    • Sex and physical intimacy
  • Decide what you are and are not okay with.
  • Talk openly with your friends about:
    • Your boundaries
    • How you’ll look out for each other
    • What to do if someone feels unsafe

A simple safety idea is to agree on a code word or phrase you can use if you want to leave a situation without drawing attention.

Tell family or trusted adults

Let someone you trust know:

  • Where you’re going (address, city)
  • Who you’re with
  • How long you’ll be away
  • How to reach you (phone, social media, backup number)

If plans change, send a quick update.

Plan safe travel

Whether you’re staying in Grand Rapids or traveling:

  • Don’t drink and drive.
  • Arrange:
    • A designated sober driver
    • Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)
    • Taxi or a trusted adult pickup
  • In winter, remember West Michigan roads can be icy and visibility poor. Leave extra time and avoid driving in snowstorms or after drinking.

If you have a health condition (such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, or depression):

  • Talk to your doctor before you go.
  • Ask how alcohol or other drugs might:
    • Interact with your medications
    • Affect your condition
  • Make sure you have enough medication for the whole trip.

Health and Insurance Considerations

If you’re traveling out of state or overseas:

  • Check your health insurance coverage.
  • Consider travel insurance that covers:
    • Medical emergencies
    • Hospital care
    • Emergency transport

In Grand Rapids, major hospitals include:

  • Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Mercy Health facilities in the region

Know which hospital is closest to where you’ll be staying.

What to Pack for a Safe Trip or Party

Packing smart can prevent a lot of problems, especially in Michigan’s changing weather.

Safety and health essentials

  • Photo ID and insurance card
  • Phone and charger (plus a portable power bank)
  • Medications and copies of prescriptions
  • Small first aid kit (bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic wipes)
  • Hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
  • Face masks, if you prefer or if someone is sick
  • A list of emergency contacts

Michigan weather essentials

West Michigan weather can change quickly, even in late spring or fall:

  • Layers (hoodie, light jacket)
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Comfortable, closed-toe shoes (for glass, rocks, and cold pavement)
  • In warmer months:
    • Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
    • Sunglasses
    • Hat
    • Insect repellent (mosquitoes and ticks are common near lakes and woods)

Sexual health and hygiene

If you’re sexually active or think you might be:

  • Condoms (external/male and/or internal/female)
  • Dental dams (for oral sex)
  • Lubricant
  • Period products
  • Personal hygiene items (toothbrush, soap, deodorant, wipes)

Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before and after a big party period is a good idea. You can access STI testing through:

  • Your GP or family doctor
  • Local clinics affiliated with Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Metro Health
  • Kent County Health Department sexual health services

Keeping Your Accommodation and Belongings Safe

At your hotel, Airbnb, or rental

  • Keep your room locked.
  • If you’re sharing:
    • Know who has the key or swipe card.
    • Stick with that person when you go out.
  • If there is a 24-hour front desk, you can leave the key there instead of carrying it out partying.

Keep track of where you’re staying

  • Save the address in your phone.
  • Take a photo of:
    • The building
    • The room number
  • Carry a card with:
    • Accommodation name
    • Address
    • Phone number

This helps if your phone dies or you get lost.

Look after your stuff

  • Don’t leave bags, phones, or wallets:
    • On the beach
    • On tables in clubs
    • Unattended in public spaces
  • Take turns with friends to watch everyone’s belongings.
  • Keep your shoes on outside, especially:
    • On city streets
    • At parties
    • At the beach (broken glass is common)

Staying Together and Avoiding Risky Situations

Stick with your group

  • Walk to and from party areas in groups.
  • Avoid wandering off alone, especially if you’ve been drinking or using drugs.
  • Before going out, agree on:
    • A meeting point if you get separated
    • A time to check in with each other

Be cautious with strangers

Unwanted attention can happen at any big event or party:

  • Some older people may show up just to target younger partygoers who’ve been drinking or using drugs.
  • Don’t go off alone with someone you just met, even if they seem friendly.
  • If you feel uncomfortable:
    • Move away
    • Find your friends
    • Go to a safer, more public area

Crowds and fights

  • Avoid groups of people who seem aggressive or “looking for trouble.”
  • If a fight starts:
    • Do not stay to watch.
    • Move away quickly and safely.
  • Violence can spread fast in crowds—distance is your best protection.

Alcohol Safety Tips for Grand Rapids Grads

You don’t have to drink to have fun. But if you choose to drink, be smart about it so you can enjoy the night and remember it the next day.

Before and while you drink

  • Eat first. Drinking on an empty stomach increases your risk of getting sick or blacking out.
  • Know your limits. Don’t try to keep up with others.
  • Pace yourself:
    • Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks.
    • Sip slowly instead of doing many shots.
  • Stay hydrated, especially in warm weather, crowded venues, or if you’re dancing a lot.

Protect yourself from drink spiking

Anyone can spike a drink, including people you know. To reduce the risk:

  • Buy or pour your own drinks.
  • Watch the bartender make your drink.
  • Use drinks with lids if possible, and open them yourself.
  • Don’t:
    • Leave your drink unattended
    • Share drinks with strangers
    • Accept open drinks from people you don’t fully trust
  • If you all go to the dance floor, get new drinks afterward.

If you suspect drink spiking

If you or a friend suddenly feel very strange, confused, extremely drowsy, or “out of it” after drinking:

  • Tell a trusted friend immediately.
  • Go to a safe, well-lit place.
  • Tell the venue manager or host.
  • Call 911 if:
    • The person is very drowsy or unconscious
    • Breathing is slow or irregular
    • They cannot be woken up
    • They have chest pain, seizures, or severe confusion

Other Drugs: Reducing Harm and Staying Informed

The safest option is not to use drugs. If you decide to use them anyway, be honest with yourself and your friends about the risks.

If you choose to take drugs

  • Research what you’re thinking of taking using reliable sources (e.g., national drug information services, reputable health sites).
  • Tell your friends what you’ve taken so they can tell ambulance or hospital staff in an emergency.
  • Avoid:
    • Mixing different drugs
    • Mixing drugs with alcohol
  • Be aware that:
    • Pills and powders can contain unknown “fillers”
    • Effects can be unpredictable and dangerous
    • New psychoactive substances (“synthetics”) are often more risky and less understood

If you’re feeling down, anxious, or depressed, avoid alcohol and drugs—they often make mental health symptoms worse.

Overdose and bad reactions

Call 911 immediately if someone has:

  • Trouble breathing or is not breathing
  • Unconsciousness or can’t be woken
  • Seizures
  • Chest pain
  • Extreme agitation, confusion, or very slow breathing
  • Blue lips/face/fingernails (lighter complexions) or greyish/ashen skin tone (darker complexions)

If they are breathing but not fully awake:

  • Gently roll them onto their side (recovery position).
  • Stay with them until the ambulance arrives.

Paramedics focus on saving lives and usually do not involve police unless someone’s safety is directly at risk.

In Michigan, sex must be consensual. That means:

  • Both people clearly agree.
  • The person is not:
    • Drunk or high to the point they can’t make decisions
    • Asleep or unconscious
    • Pressured, threatened, or scared into saying “yes”

If someone says “no”, seems unsure, or is too out of it to respond, there is no consent. You must respect their decision, and others must respect yours.

Protecting yourself

  • Only have sex if you want to—not because of pressure, expectations, or what others are doing.
  • Use condoms and/or dental dams to reduce the risk of:
    • STIs
    • Unplanned pregnancy
  • Get regular sexual health check-ups if you’re sexually active.

Local options for STI testing and sexual health support include:

  • Your GP or family doctor
  • Clinics at Corewell Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health
  • Kent County Health Department sexual health clinics

If you experience sexual assault

Sexual assault can happen even with people you know. It is never your fault.

In Michigan:

  • There is no time limit on reporting sexual assault.
  • You can:
    • Call 911 in an emergency.
    • Go to the emergency department at:
      • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
      • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Talk to your GP.
    • Contact a sexual assault crisis or advocacy service (check Kent County and Michigan statewide hotlines).

If you don’t want to report to police, you can still get:

  • Medical care
  • Emotional support
  • Confidential counseling

Mental Health and Emotional Safety

Big changes—like finishing high school—can bring up stress, anxiety, or low mood. Party culture can sometimes make this worse.

  • Talk to someone you trust if you:
    • Feel overwhelmed
    • Have thoughts of self-harm
    • Are going through a personal crisis
  • Reach out to:
    • A friend or family member
    • A teacher, coach, or youth worker
    • Your GP or a mental health professional
    • National helplines (such as the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988)

If you or someone you’re with is in immediate danger, call 911.

Social Media and Your Digital Reputation

When people are partying, it can feel funny to post or share videos and photos—but these can follow you for years.

  • Think before you post:
    • Would you be okay with a future employer, coach, or college seeing this?
  • Don’t share images or videos of others doing things they might regret.
  • If someone posts something of you that makes you uncomfortable:
    • Ask them to take it down.
    • Report it to the platform if needed.

Remember: once something is online, it can be very hard to fully remove.

COVID-19 and Other Infections

To reduce the spread of illnesses like COVID-19, flu, mono (glandular fever), and gastro:

  • Stay up to date with vaccinations recommended by your doctor.
  • Wash or sanitize hands regularly.
  • Don’t share:
    • Drinks
    • Vapes
    • Cigarettes
    • Utensils
  • If you’re sick, consider staying home or taking it easy to avoid spreading infection.

If traveling overseas or to areas with specific requirements:

  • Check airline and destination COVID-19 rules.
  • See your doctor 6–8 weeks before travel for any needed vaccines.

Local Grand Rapids and Michigan Resources

If you need help or information while in Grand Rapids or West Michigan:

  • Emergency: Call 911 for police, fire, or ambulance.
  • Nearest emergency departments:
    • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital (downtown Grand Rapids)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health (Wyoming)

For general health and sexual health:

  • Your GP or family doctor
  • Kent County Health Department
  • Local clinics through:
    • Corewell Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health

For mental health or crisis support, you can also:

  • Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 24/7, nationwide)
  • Use reputable online services for youth mental health information and chat support

Key Safety Points for Grand Rapids Grads

  • Keep your room locked and know who has the key or card.
  • Walk to and from party areas in groups—don’t wander off alone.
  • Eat before drinking, pace yourself, and stay hydrated.
  • Watch your drinks and get new ones if you leave them unattended.
  • Avoid mixing drugs and alcohol—this increases the risk of overdose.
  • Practise safe sex and respect consent—“no” always means no.
  • Trust your instincts—if you feel unsafe, leave the situation.
  • If someone has trouble breathing, is unconscious, or badly injured, call 911 immediately.
  • Talk to someone you trust if you’re feeling down, anxious, or in crisis.

Celebrating the end of school in Grand Rapids or along the Lake Michigan shoreline can be an amazing experience. With some planning, honest conversations, and smart choices, you can enjoy your freedom—and get home safely.