Peer pressure and drugs: Definition, risk factors, and addiction

Telling someone that it’s tough for you to say no – and asking for their help to stick to your needs – calls the person in rather than calling them out. Instead of feeling rejected by your “no,” they will hopefully see an opportunity to help a friend. Some of these things won’t impact your life long-term, but others will. Peer pressure can range from minor to extreme, but it can affect anyone. Research on peer pressure shows its trends and effects, all while illustrating the fact that we likely aren’t immune to it, even if we think we are. Usually, you’ll be able to distinguish the two by how you feel during the conversation.

Developing Healthy Strategies

Instead of quickly agreeing to do something you’d rather not do, pause and take a few deep breaths. If someone is waiting for you to answer them, tell them you need to take a few days and think about it. It’s easier to resist the pressure when you put some time and space between yourself and the situation. It can be helpful to remember that a person does not have to do everything that their peers do.

What strategies can help handle negative peer pressure?

• Eating and drinking is the place most of us, even the most indecisive, know what we actually do and don’t like.
• When faced with peer pressure, distraction can be an effective tool.
• Practicing mindfulness allows you to stay in the present moment, making it easier to recognize and respond to external pressures effectively.
• Surround yourself with supportive individuals who appreciate your authenticity and respect your journey.
• Acknowledge the underlying pressures, and don’t be afraid to communicate your choices clearly.

Individual peer pressure involves the internal struggle to meet personal expectations, often driven by comparison to peers’ behaviors. So, the best way to respond is by focusing on your own goals and progress, rather than measuring yourself against others. Seek support from outpatient treatment or support groups to strengthen your resolve.

Examples of positive peer or social pressure include:

Although parents worry about the influence of peers, overall, parents also can have a strong influence on whether children succumb to negative peer pressure. Being subject to peer rejection can be very painful, and a person who feels unable to tolerate rejection may find it very difficult to resist using drugs and alcohol if their peers do so. For this reason, it is important to find peers who either do not use drugs or alcohol or accept those who do not. A 2018 study explored the role of sex differences in peer pressure to smoke.

Above all, staying committed to your sobriety goals is paramount. Remind yourself regularly of the reasons you embarked on this journey and the positive changes it has brought to your life. Keep a journal, attend therapy, or engage in an aftercare program to strengthen which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? your resolve and reinforce your commitment. You can experience peer pressure from people without them saying anything to you, and you can experience it from direct remarks made by others. Gender can affect how these pressures are internalized and expressed. For example, of the 29% of teens who responded they felt peer pressure to look “good,” girls were more likely than boys to say they feel a lot of pressure to look good (35% vs. 23%).