Friends can be our greatest asset, but they can also lead us down the wrong path, the path toward substance abuse and even addiction. When we’re in the company of friends, our defenses are lowered, which makes us more susceptible to suggestion. Combine that with a desire to be liked and to fit in, and it’s no wonder peer pressure is such a powerful force. For more information, please visit https://retreataddictioncenters.com/

2. • Our friends are our greatest treasures, but
they can also be our biggest stumbling blocks.
• Study after study shows that we’re more likely
to engage in risky or negative behaviors if our
friends do.
• It’s called peer pressure, and it’s one of the
biggest risk factors for substance abuse.

3. • Almost everyone is susceptible to peer
pressure.
• Humans are social animals, which means
we crave acceptance from others.
• Still, some groups are more at risk than
others. Adolescents, for example, suffer
the most from peer pressure. According
to one study, 30% of teens who used
pain relievers for the first time felt
pressured to do so.1

4. • Those who use drugs and alcohol because they
want to fit in put themselves at greater risk for:
• Alcohol poisoning
• Drunk driving accidents
• Alcohol abuse disorder or alcoholism
• Drug addiction
• Drug overdose
• Legal troubles
• Financial troubles

5. • In almost every case, the only way to solve the problem is to “get
out of the circle.”
• That means disengaging from those who threaten to bring you
down or derail your addiction recovery.
• It can be hard to distance yourself from friends who engage in
dangerous behaviors, but it could also transform your life.
• Who knows? It might even save your life.

6. • It’s not as easy to say no to drugs and
alcohol as one might think. If it were, peer
pressure wouldn’t be such a powerful force.
• With that in mind, here are a few creative
ways to say no to drugs:
• Change the topic.
• Shrug your shoulders and leave.
• Yawn.
• Say you’re allergic to alcohol or drugs.
• Crack a joke.
• Say it might conflict with your
medication.

7. • You should stay away from unhealthy
relationships, but isolating yourself
completely will do more harm than good.
• The good news is that peer pressure goes
both ways. Just as friends who use drugs
and alcohol can bring you down, so
friends who engage in positive behaviors
can help you reinforce healthy habits.
• At the end of the day, the best remedy
for negative peer pressure is positive
peer pressure.

8. Sometimes, the only way to escape
the vicious cycle of peer pressure is
to seek refuge in a sober living
home. There, isolated from
temptations and outside influences,
you can start down the path to
recovery.
In a drug rehab facility, you’ll find a
group of supportive friends who are
journeying to sobriety with you.
You’ll also find trained counselors
who can help you deal with the
causes and consequences of
substance abuse.

9. • However you handle peer pressure, it’s
important to start now before the
situation spirals further out of control.
• Getting help begins the moment you
contact a substance abuse treatment
center.
• If you or someone you know is
struggling with addiction, call Retreat
Premier Addiction Treatment Centers’
24/7 hotline at (800) 557-0566.
• Together, we can make a difference.

10. At Retreat Premier Addiction Treatment Centers, we help people overcome the
temptations and social pressures that put them at risk for substance abuse disorders.
We know how difficult it can be to break away from negative relationships, which is
why our drug rehab centers in Palm Beach County, FL and Lancaster County, PA
provide a safe, supportive environment in which recovery is possible. To learn more,
visit our website at https://retreataddictioncenters.com.

11. 1. https://www.teenhelp.com/teen-issues/peer-
pressure-statistics-facts/