Helping Teens Avoid Peer Pressure to Use Drugs
Blogroll No Comments »Drug abuse among teenagers is increasing at an alarming rate in the US and other countries. Parents, teachers, and the community in general are all concerned about the effects that drugs have on children and teenagers. Using drugs at a young age can have a devastating effect on the lives of young people. While being a teen and young adult is often is associated with the time to “experiment”, experimenting with drugs can have serious consequences for young people. Studies show that the younger a person is when they start using drugs, the higher the likelihood that they will develop a drug abuse problem is.
One of the main reasons why teens decided to try drugs in the first place is peer pressure. Peer pressure is very prevalent among teens and is a huge factor in the behavioral choices of young people. It is very important for teens to “fit in” and feel like they belong. Popularity is one the largest concerns for teens. It is part of the developmental stage that they are in that makes them so much more susceptible to giving in to peer pressure and using drugs. They are forming their self identities and use the examples of those around them, particularly their peers, to help them do this.
Teens can be taught how to identify peer pressure and how to avoid giving in to it. The most important thing that a parent, can do is to take the time to speak with their teen about the importance of avoiding drugs and about the dangers of drug abuse. Teenagers need to practice how to say no to their peers in a way that lets them still feel “cool” and that minimizes their concerns about becoming outsiders. Adults can help teens accomplish this confidence by role playing with them. This practice will help teens apply these skills in the real world the next time they are confronted with the choice to do drugs. Avoiding negative peer pressure can be done; teens just need the skills to do so.