As high school prom season hits its peak, so do calls to the Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre in St. John's.

Barbie Wadman, co-ordinator of the centre, said counsellors receive a marked increase in calls to the crisis help line around prom time.

Wadman said it seems to be because of an increase in drug and alcohol use among high school students during celebrations.

"We'll get young people who call, and they want to talk about experiences that they've had. Generally they'll be experiences from parties or some sort of celebratory activity ... Generally there are drugs and alcohol involved," Wadman said.

Wadman said young women are often dealing with guilt, because they feel they put themselves in harm's way by using drugs or alcohol.

Wadman said parents can help by keeping the lines of communication open with their teenagers.

They should also be on the lookout for any changes in behaviour that might indicate something has happened.

"I can't tell you how many times I've spoken to young people who feel like they can't confide in their parents," Wadman said. "We make sure they know all of their options ... but if you have a child who isn't comfortable talking to their parents, even getting medical attention could be an issue."

Wadman said her centre also gets more calls for help after Christmas and the Victoria Day long weekend in May.