When we think about kids and substance abuse, we are usually quick to point out the effect of peer pressure. While teens, like birds of a feather, tend to act like their peers, many teens see peer pressure as an excuse to do what they want to do, but know they shouldn’t. In reality, teens who do not smoke or use alcohol or other drugs don’t want to be around those who do—and vice versa. That explains why a teen whose friends use tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs increases the odds that he/she will be a user too. If a teen did not want to use these substances he would not hang around those who do.
Many teens think peer pressure is overrated by the “experts”; often, they’re right. Most mental health professional, experts, only see kids who are already in trouble, parents don’t take healthy kids to see these professionals so, many experts have a skewed view of teenagers.
Peer pressure is what a person wants it to be. I see it as an excuse not to be taken seriously. If you want your kids to be better students, better citizens, and become men and women of character don’t fall for peer pressure. In reality it exists only in the minds of those who need it to blame others rather than take responsibility for their own actions.
So, be wary of your kids friends, if they are doing things you don’t like, it usually means your kids want to do them too. Think about it, did your friends ever pressure you to do things you did not really want to do? Mine didn’t!
Do me a favor and let me know what real pressure your friends ever put on you to do things you did not already want to do. I’ll publish them next week – without your name of course.
Above taken in part from “Messengers in Denim.”