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Ways to Avoid Peer Pressure to Use

1. Say, “No thanks.” It could be just as easy as that. But if the person offering the cigarette, beer or joint persists, you'll have to use other tactics.
2. Be a broken record. Keep saying no to the person offering or stall until you can think of something else to say.
3. Give a reason. The reason could be as simple as, “I’m not allowed to do that” or “It’s bad for you” or you could state the consequences, such as, “I don’t want to do that; it’ll make me sick.” or “You can die from doing that.” The important thing is to say no and say why with confidence.
4. Walk away or ignore the offer. This doesn’t work in all situations. Sometimes you might be alone or in a situation where walking away is not an option.
5. Change the subject or suggest doing something else. By saying, “Let’s do ______ instead,” you have the potential to not only refuse an offer of alcohol, tobacco or drugs, but to prevent a friend from using it, too.

The best way to refuse alcohol, tobacco or drugs is to spend time with people who don’t use these substances.¹

Peer pressure is usually more subtle ...[than the examples above]. It's
also listening to friends talking about how much they drank Saturday at a party. They’re laughing and you might feel left out because you weren’t invited. It's the pressure inside that says, “I want to belong.” Teach yourself positive self talk like, “I don’t have to drink to have friends. My friends have more interesting things to do.”²

¹Source: Illinois Drug Education Alliance
²Source: "Talking to Teens About Drinking" a booklet provided by the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois in partnership with the Illinois Principals Association

Other Ideas for Saying "NO":

• “My parents would be really upset if they find out. And they always do!”
• “I’ll get kicked off the team if I get caught.”
• “I like you, but I don’t like drugs/alcohol/cigarettes.”
• “No, I’m not into that.”
• "No, I'm trying to stay healthy for ---."
• "No, that's not for me."
• "Nah, I'm on the --- team and I don't want to risk it."
• "No thanks. I don't like how it makes people not act like themselves."