Dealing with Peer Pressure
Learn How To Say NO
Remember you are in control of your choices! Resist peer pressure! It's not easy at first but once your peers get the message you're not using they will leave you alone. You can be confident when you say no and feel okay with your choice. Learn all you can about the real facts of drinking and other drug use.
Here are tips on how to say no to alcohol and drugs:
- Just say "No thanks!" with confidence.
- "No thanks, I'm protecting my health" or "It's not my thing."
- "No thanks, I've got to go."
- Walk away. You have the right to say no.
- Sometimes you may need to avoid situations where you know you will be pressured to use.
- Surround yourself with friends who don't drink or use drugs.
LEARN THE FACTS
Resist Unspoken Pressure
Alcohol and drugs can steal your power - so hang on to your power!
Sometimes you can feel pressure just from watching how others act or dress, without them saying a word to you. This "unspoken pressure" is especially hard to resist, because instead of standing up to a friend, you're standing up to how you feel inside.
Unspoken pressure may come from role models like your parents, your older siblings, teachers, coaches, or celebrities you see in movies and on TV. Unspoken pressure may also come from peers, your friends or other people your age.
- Take a reality check - most teens don't binge drink
- Remember it's risky - alcohol can be dangerous
- Walk away from the situation
- Find something else to do with other friends
Peer Pressure Case Scenarios
My best friend just moved away. Now I pretty much watch TV every day after school and on the weekends. There are a lot of ads for alcohol, and I always see people partying with drinks and having a good time. If they're having such a good time and I'm lonely at home, should I go out and join the drinkers?
> Alcohol in TV shows may make you think that all the beautiful people with lots of friends drink and that drinking will turn you into one of them. The truth is not everyone drinks and a lot of bad things can happen with alcohol. Don't let the TV fool you. Get off the couch and join a club or group at school and make some new friends.
I was at a party last night where people were drinking. They were all hanging out in a circle, and I felt left out. I picked up a beer can and pretended to drink so I'd fit in. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but later I felt kind of dumb about it. What do you think of this trick? What should I do next time?
> First of all, if the party got busted you would be in serious trouble. Pretending to drink is not a good thing to do, because your friends will start asking you if you want drinks in the future. The best thing to do is to find something else to drink, find others who are not drinking and hang out with them, or leave the party. You will get a chance to see your friends later.
I'm a 14-year old boy and my brother, T.J., is 19. He's a popular guy with lots of friends and a girlfriend. He's been drinking beer with his buddies for a few years. He hasn't gotten into any trouble - my parents didn't know about it when he was younger. Meanwhile, my friends are starting to talk about drinking on Saturday nights. I don't really want to, because I'm afraid I'll get caught or sick or something. But so far it hasn't hurt my brother, so I'm thinking about it. What should I do?
"It is illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 19..."
You may think drinking is OK because your brother - a major role model for you - hasn't gotten into trouble with drinking. But that doesn't make it any safer for you to drink at your age.
It is illegal to drink alcohol under the age of 19, and you could face serious legal problems. Also, alcohol won't make you popular or help you find a girlfriend. It could do just the opposite. When your friends want to drink, you have a few options. First, remind yourself that most teens don't drink, and remind yourself that it's risky. Then, either find something non-alcoholic to drink or leave and hang out with friends who aren't drinking.
(Case Scenarios taken from www.thecoolspot.gov)
