One of the reasons teen drinking happens is because of peer pressure. Your friends are drinking. Why shouldn’t you? Even if you know the risks and understand that you don’t have to give in, you may have done so. Now, you’re struggling with an addiction to drinking and peer pressure to keep going. What can you do? Our team at Fort Behavioral Health can offer help and support as you work through this situation.
Drinking and Peer Pressure
It is not uncommon for teen drinking to occur as a result of peer pressure. When your friends are doing it, you want to be a part of that. It’s a natural human instinct to want to fit in, and that may seem to meet your need to start drinking with your friends. That doesn’t mean it’s okay. You should do what’s right for you in these situations. How can you achieve that when drinking and peer pressure go hand-in-hand? Here are some tips to help you from our drug and alcohol rehab program.
Tell Your Friends You Don’t Want To
You don’t like the taste. You don’t like what it does to you. It makes you feel ill. Any of these excuses may help you. Or you can tell your friends no. Drinking with friends is dangerous and can lead to the need for an alcohol addiction treatment program, and you may recognize this. You may also realize that when you are drinking, you lose control, and, in some cases, you may be unsure of what’s happening around you. That’s a big risk you don’t want to take.
Don’t Hang Around When They Are Drinking
When teen drinking starts to happen, you may feel unable to leave. You may feel like you have to stay and start drinking with friends. If that type of pressure is on you and you cannot overcome it with a simple “no,” it may be time to stay away. That is a tough decision to make especially when you want to be around your friends. Yet, it may be very important to your health and wellbeing.
Enjoy the Benefits of Not Drinking
When it comes to drinking and peer pressure, sometimes it means having some trouble with your friends. However, there are some benefits to not drinking.
- You’ll save money every time you head out with friends.
- You don’t lose control over your thoughts and actions.
- Drunk driving isn’t something you have to worry about.
- No one is going to catch you doing something you shouldn’t.
- There’s no hangover tomorrow.
When you find it challenging like this, consider faking it. That is, drink something that’s not alcohol and pretend to be intoxicated. That can give you a bit of time to get out of the situation without having to feel at risk. There are situations where you may need to do this to avoid being pressured into doing something you don’t want to do.
Recognize That Sometimes You Need Help
If you are drinking with friends often, an addiction can form and you may need help from a substance abuse treatment center. This may mean it becomes tough for you to stop using it. Teen drinking can lead to worsening health problems and more significant addictions down the road. For that reason, seek out help from our team at Fort Behavioral Health. You don’t have to be the one to fall victim to drinking and peer pressure.
Making the Decision to Get Sober Starts with a Call to Fort Behavioral Health
Drinking and peer pressure can be a big part of your life. You don’t have to feel like you can’t get through it. Our team at Fort Behavioral Health offers a range of treatment options to meet each one of your goals. Whether you’re struggling or your teen is, let our team help. Call us at 844.332.1807 to learn more.
