As the Anacortes High School Class of 2009 readies for graduation, celebrations of all sorts are on tap.

That’s a good thing. Seniors have made it through to a major milestone in their lives, and it’s time for fun and congratulations as they start down some new paths.

They’re marching off into an uncertain world, what with the economy in distress and jobs hard to come by for everyone, no matter their age. While the world might seem out of control at times, how they handle this transition will be crucial to their futures.

One thing our young people — and their families — can control though is the graduation celebration. The temptation to use drugs and alcohol mounts this time of year as seniors ponder a last big fling to mark the end of high school.

They should forget about it, and remind themselves it is illegal, destructive behavior, and something proud parents shouldn’t be enabling.

Anacortes Police Chief Bonnie Bowers lays it all out clearly in an article in the Anacortes Parks & Recreation’s summer program guide.

Some people feel that experimenting with drugs and alcohol is just a phase that most teenagers go through, so what’s the problem?

Plenty, says the chief, who wonders if as a community we are sending a clear message to the youth of Anacortes when there are parents who allow these illegal behaviors to go on.

There have been two alcohol-related accidents recently where teenagers were driving the cars.

Fortunately there were no serious injuries in either accident. Folks were lucky.

The chief relates another incident: a mother with her priorities out of whack when her son was arrested for possessing marijuana after he almost ran into the chief’s patrol car while smoking and driving in the wrong lane.

Her reaction when she came to the station to pick her son up: “Is this going to affect his trip to France this summer?”

Go figure. Let’s hope better judgment prevails and next week’s American is full of stories about the positive things graduates have done and without news of a tragic and senseless accident that changes lives forever.