Teens and Peer Pressure
Have your friends ever tried to pressure you? Did you give in, even though you didn’t want to. Pure pressure can include put-downs, rejections, and reasoning, as well as pressure without words, or unspoken pressure.
At some point, you will be offered drugs and or alcohol. To resist such pressure, teens can use quick one-liners that will allow them to turn down a drink without making a big scene. Think up and use comebacks to drink offers that you will feel comfortable saying. Here are some simple pressure-busters.
Resisting Pressure:
- Stand up straight.
- Make eye contact.
- Say how you feel.
- Don't make excuses.
- Stick up for yourself.
Ways to say no:
- No thanks.
- I don’t feel like it
- Alcohol and Drugs are not my thing.
- Are you talking to me? Forget it.
- Why do you keep pressuring me when I’ve said NO?
- Back off!
It’s not enough to tell your teen that he or she should avoid alcohol or drugs, you also need to help your teen figure out how.
What can your teen say when she goes to a party and a friend offers her a beer?
Or what should your teen do if he finds himself in a home where teens are passing around a bottle of alcohol or a joint and parents are nowhere in sight? What should their response be if they are offered a ride home from someone who has been drinking?
Brainstorm with your teen for ways that they might handle these and other difficult situations, and make clear how you are willing to support your teen.
An example:
If you find yourself at a home where teens are drinking, call me and I’ll pick you up. The more prepared your teen is, the better they will handle high-pressure situations that involve drinking.
Reasoning:
Telling a person reasons why they should try something or why it would be OK if they did. (Nobody said these were good reasons.) Some examples of pressure by reasoning are:
- It won't hurt you.
- Your parents will never find out.
- You'll have more fun.
Here are some more resources and articles on teen drug use.