Why Does Peer Pressure Influence Teens To Try Drugs?
1 Comment 
During NIDA’s most recent Drug Facts Chat Day,“Kid” from Totino-Grace High School in Minnesota, asked: “Why is peer pressure such a huge factor in teens’ temptations [to experiment with] drugs and alcohol?”
Risk Versus Reward
New research shows that, when making a decision, teens think about both the risks and rewards of their actions and behaviors—but, unlike adults, teens are more likely to ignore the risk in favor of the reward.
In a NIDA-funded study, teens driving with their friends in the car were more likely to take risks—like speeding through yellow lights—if they knew that two or more of their friends were watching. Teens were also significantly more likely to act this way than adults in the same experiment.
Researchers monitored the brain activity of all the teen drivers. Results showed that just knowing friends were watching activated brain regions linked with reward, especially when the teen drivers made risky decisions.
So, be aware: The desire to impress your friends may override your fear of taking risks. This could also apply to deciding whether to try drugs or alcohol—your decision might be influenced by who is around and if you think they’d be impressed.
Tell us: When you already know the risks, yet you want to impress your friends, do you run the light or slow down and stop? Do you accept a drink or turn it down? Do you go with the crowd or be your own person and impress others with your individuality?
What are some ways you could put the brakes on long enough to think twice before making a decision to do something you know is risky?
Let’s Talk: How Do You Avoid Peer Pressure?
Peer pressure comes in many different forms. You might feel it in group situations, or you might have friends who try to get you to do things that make you uneasy, like smoke cigarettes, steal your parents’ prescription medications, cheat on a test, or skip school.
It’s hard to stand up for what you believe when everyone else is pushing something different. It’s hard for adults, and it’s especially hard for teens. So how do you do it—how do you resist peer pressure? What ideas do you have for staying true to you?
To answer the question, you can either write your response in the “Leave a Reply” box below, or send us a message. As always, we read all of your comments and feedback.
Don’t forget that you can always respond to questions we’ve asked before, so just drop us a comment. We always look forward to hearing from you!
Real Teens Ask: Why Take Drugs?
During NIDA’s Drug Facts Chat Day 2010, young people asked a lot of great questions. One really basic question came from a student in Pennsylvania: Why do people take drugs?
While the specific answer may differ from person to person, some common reasons are that people think they will feel good, forget their problems, perform better, or fit in.
Drugs may have these effects at first, but they do not last, at least not like the long-term negative consequences can. Here are some “reality checks” on common reasons people have for doing drugs:
“Drugs help me feel good.” Most abused drugs produce intense feelings of pleasure. This initial sensation of euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the “high” is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opiates such as heroin is followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction.
Reality check: While a drug-induced high may temporarily boost your mood, the effect doesn’t last long. Before you know it, the same old worries return, and, in fact, the after-effects of the drug may leave you with additional physical or emotional symptoms. Headaches, nausea, and feeling “down” are common side effects for many people. Withdrawal can be quite painful—physically and mentally.
“Drugs help me feel better.” Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress-related disorders, and depression start abusing drugs in an attempt to lessen feelings of distress. Stress can play a major role in beginning drug use, continuing drug abuse, or in relapsing to drug use for people recovering from addiction.
Reality check: Some prescription medications can help lessen anxiety- or stress-related problems for a person suffering from a mental health problem that has been diagnosed by a doctor. These medications should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor and used under a doctor’s care. The “high” caused by illicit drugs like marijuana or cocaine may be just a temporary mask over your problems and will not make you feel better in the long run. In fact, illicit drugs may cause you even more stress, anxiety, and problems.
“Drugs help me perform better.” The increasing pressure that some people feel to chemically enhance or improve their athletic abilities or performance in school can prompt them to start or continue drug abuse.
Reality check: So-called “performance enhancing” drugs, like steroids, actually have serious side effects. Men may develop breasts, and women may acquire some male characteristics like a deeper voice and increased body hair. Some people may abuse stimulants to increase their alertness, but dangerous side effects like irregular heartbeat, high body temperatures, and the potential for heart failure or seizures make this a bad bargain.
“Everyone’s doing it.” Teens are particularly vulnerable to trying drugs because of the strong influence of peer pressure; they are more likely, for example, to take part in risky behaviors because they assume that their peers are also doing it.
Reality check: The annual Monitoring the Future survey, which measures drug abuse by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders and their attitudes towards drugs, show that nowhere close to a majority of teens are abusing drugs (PDF, 317 KB).
The bottom line?— knowing more about the specific negative effects of drugs on your brain and body can help you think twice before you act.
Sara’s Stats: Alcohol is Out!
We know you’ve heard how dangerous drinking alcohol is, especially if you’re underage. You might even hear from those who pressure you at parties and out-of-school gatherings that “everyone’s doing it.” But the truth is, not everyone’s doing it—take it from the scientists who know.
NIDA’s 2010 Monitoring the Future Survey of teen drug use and attitudes shows that alcohol use, especially among 12th graders, declined significantly in the past year. The large annual study notes that alcohol use among 12th graders is now at the lowest reported percentage since the study began in 1975.
Monitoring the Future also notes a significant decline in heavy drinking or “binge drinking.” Binge drinking is when people have several drinks in a row over a short time period, to get drunk.
So, if you ever feel pressured into drinking with that lame old line “everyone’s doing it,” make sure you remember the real deal: alcohol is out!
Good Riddance: Peer Pressure
Peer pressure happens in every high school and middle school in the country, and is pretty much a part of growing up. Being pressured by your peers can be difficult and even stressful…it’s hard sometimes to go against the group and stand up for your beliefs and what you know is right. Here are 5 pointers that may help:
1. Hang out with people who share your beliefs about healthy living. True friends would respect how you feel and not try to pressure you into anything that didn’t feel right to you.
2. Join a club or a sports team. Keeping yourself busy with school and extracurricular activities will help you avoid boredom and be around people who share your interests.
3. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, get out! If you are hanging out after school or at a party on the weekend and someone offers you drugs or alcohol, make an excuse to leave and walk away.
4. If you find yourself cornered, crack a joke. The kids doing the pressuring won’t know what to do with someone who doesn’t take them seriously.
5. Keep in touch with an adult. If you feel like you can’t get yourself out of a situation, turn to a trusted adult for help or advice.
You’ve probably heard all this before, but that’s because these things actually work! Saying no to peer pressure once makes it easier the next time and lets people know more about who you are. Your pressurers will come to understand that you are a self-confident person who thinks for yourself, even if they don’t say it to your face.
NOTE: PDF documents require the free Adobe Reader. Microsoft Word documents require the free Microsoft Word viewer.
Flash content requires the free Adobe Flash Player.
National Institute on Drug Abuse | National Institutes of Health | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
