As much as it sounds like something from one of those 1990s “just say no” campaigns, peer pressure is a real thing. All of us experience it to some degree – the desire to be liked, to fit in, to not be viewed as uncool or unworthy – but it’s a particular problem for young people who have yet to discover who they are in life. Most teens or young adults will be approached at some point with drugs or alcohol, and no matter how aware they are of all the dangers and the reasons they should say no, it’s still a hard thing to do.
There are a number of reasons why people find it difficult to resist peer pressure. They might be afraid of being rejected by others, want to be liked, don’t want to lose a friend, don’t want to be made fun of, don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings by making them feel like they’re doing something wrong, aren’t sure of what they really want to do (keep in mind that teen’s brains aren’t yet fully developed), or don’t know how to get out of the situation. A study funded by the National Institute for Drug Abuse and conducted at Temple University in Philadelphia offered adolescents, young adults, and adults monetary rewards for driving around a computer-simulated track. Certain situations would pop up during the simulation, forcing the participants to make high-risk/reward decisions, like speeding up to make it through a yellow light despite the possibility of a crash. The results showed that teens driving with their friends in the car were more likely to take the risks –speeding up or driving through red lights – if they knew that two or more of their friends were watching. The friends didn’t say anything one way or another to influence the driver’s decision, suggesting that teenagers are likely to assume that their peers will be more impressed with risky behavior. The brain activity of the teens was monitored throughout the study, and scans showed that the simple fact that they knew their friends were watching activated reward centers.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has some tips for teens on how to resist peer pressure. Stand up straight and make eye contact to let the person know that you aren’t afraid and aren’t going to back down. Don’t make excuses for why you don’t want to partake – for one thing, that’s just going to lead to them asking you again in the future, and for another, you’ll be giving them a chance to wear you down. Say how you feel. Whatever reasons you have, whether you’re concerned about addiction or just don’t want to do something illegal, they’re perfectly valid, and you should stick by them.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504 to get started.
