Peer Pressure

Most teens have experienced peer pressure at some point in their lives. Peer pressure can come through many sources — friends, classmates, music, TV, movies. People can make it seem like everyone is involved in risky behaviors like sex, drinking, smoking, and drugs and that these things are glamorous and will make you popular if you do them. Many teens think that if they aren't doing these things there must be something wrong with them. You don't have to buy into this pressure. Peer pressure plays on your inexperience and is often hard to resist because you have a strong and natural need to belong and to be accepted by others your age — to "fit in." It takes courage to stand up for your beliefs. Look to yourself and not others for approval.

Find something you are good at and stick with it. This helps to build self-confidence. Focus on believing in your ability to make good choices and decisions.

Positive things you can do:

• Get involved in team activites (band, theater, sports)
• Find friends with similar values with whom you can be yourself
• Take up a hobby (cooking, computer, dance)
• Get a job (babysitting, mow lawns, lifeguard)
• Volunteer/help others
• Think good thoughts about yourself
• Set and achieve goals
• Think about how you dress and what it says about you
• Make and stick to a prevention plan
• Make a pledge of abstinence