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Parents Seek Truth Of Peer Pressure Through 'Reality Parties' Hosted In South Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — Dozens of parents received quite the reality check regarding the truth to what their teenagers really do on the weekends.

CBS2's Kristine Lazaar spoke with Katherine Kasmir, of Straight Up Reality Improv, who hosted "reality parties" for several parents one Saturday afternoon.

Kasmir explained the parties are put on by a group of teenage actors who play out what a typical high school house party might look like; filled with underage drinking, drugs, and sex.

"We've created a script and we've brought it into the home," said Kasmir. "We want parents to understand the culture in a way that they're going to have more relevant conversations with their kids."

Essentially, the program is designed to show that children could end up caving to several forms of peer pressure in any community, regardless of a small-town feel or top notch school systems.

According to organizers, kids as young as 9-years-old are being introduced to alcohol. Even middle school students are throwing parties involving drugs, alcohol, and sex.

"Kids are bored and they want it faster, bigger and better," said Kasmir. "We as parents need to see this and stop living in our bubbles."

Participants shared that they witnessed fist fights, drinking games, sexual situations and even adult sexual predators who crashed the reality parties.

Actors demonstrated how underage teens purchase alcohol and how they may lie to parents about where they are going and with whom they are actually hanging out with.

"Particularly in communities where there tends to be money, there is a lot more partying that goes on and the ability to pay for drugs and alcohol," said South Pasadena High School Counselor Natasha Prime.

In 2010, 17-year-old Aydin Salek, a South Pasadena High School student, died of alcohol poisoning after leaving a party in Altadena.

Two groups that helped organize the reality parties — Moms for Community and Day One — are pushing for the area to adopt a social host ordinance, which would allow law enforcement to go after teens or their parents if they host a party with underage drinking.

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