'Peer pressure'

Jules from Nebraska -

When I was in junior high I went through a pretty terrible time. I was a very good student, getting mostly A's and B's, then I started hanging out with the more popular kids and caved into peer pressure. They were smoking pot and even though I told myself that I would never do that, I took one hit and then became addicted to it. It took me about a year and a half before I came off of it. It's amazing how much I wanted to fit in and by smoking pot I felt like I was now part of the "in" crowd. Luckily with the help of my family I got off of it and survived my high school years drug free.

Comment #1 Poochie from the pound -

I had just one best friend in high school. We never hung out with any other girls. We had a bunch of guy friends that were older. We drank with them, but I never felt like I was pressured. We need to teach our kids to just be comfortable around the people you are with and be yourself. Peer pressure can't be stopped.

Comment #2 Milly from The Midwest -

That is what makes me so afraid of watching my daughter grow up. There is always going to be peer pressure and I try my best now to talk to her about not being afraid to be your own person and not care what other people think.

Comment #3 mark from marky mark land, canada -

I never was peer pressured into doing drugs or drinking. I was just really curious and wanted to do it and experiment. I have tried almost every drug out there, which isn't something to be proud of ha. Pot was always my biggest problem. Which it isn't physically addictive, it is mentally addictive, it just becomes habit. All the other drugs never seemed to really "hook me in", i mostly dabbled then i moved on. Now i have been sober for five years, WOOHOO!

If I was peer pressured into anything it was having sex, everyone around me seemed to be having sex and i thought hmm, well I guess i should too! I regret that because my first couple of experiences were just completely meaningless.

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Comment #5 Mike (63.176.159.146) -

I agree with mark i also just wanted to experiment to see what the fuss was about, I not gonna lie and say i didnt like it but it is definately something you shouldnt get into to far. Pot definately is mentally addictive. I have had some problems with that but recently got back on track.

Comment #6 Dave (63.176.159.66) -

For me, I want to try everything just for once, just to know what it feels like to be able to share and somehow understand why some are addicted to them. The problem is how to do without being addicted to it.

Comment #7 dmichael (63.176.159.126) -

Peer pressure isn't always the start to a drug problem.. Alot of people can't help it. I was prescribed pain killers for my hernia. I took them for the pain. As time went by, it became an everyday thing, I had to have one.

Now that my hernia isn't so bad and I don't need pills everyday, its still hard to not have them.. There are so many people out there that is addicted because of medical problems..

As far as your teenagers, talk to them. Let them know the consequences they will face if they do drugs. How it will hurt them.

Comment #8 dmichael (63.176.159.6) -

also, you need to form a tight trust relationship with your teens. Let them know that they can talk to you no matter the situation. If your kids trust you they would be more open with you.

Comment #9 Frank (63.176.159.235) -

I agree with dmichael.. I talk to my kids all the time. They know I will be understanding.

Comment #10 Geri (63.176.159.73) -

Drugs can be a real problem it's too bad all of the terrible things that happen when drugs are involved.

Comment #11 Olivia (63.176.159.21) -

I too, was a REALLY good student in high school, than when I went to college I began experimenting with drugs. I never in my life, smoked, drank, did drugs untill college. When I went to college I began drinking than smoking. Eventually I was trying everything in front of me, and I have pretty much done every drug there is out there, except the harsh drugs. I never smoked crack, or shot up drugs, but it was a learning process in my life, and I am now a successful business woman, and have not done drugs at all for 7 years. I still drink occasionally but thats all. I was never addicted to drugs, but I would take it back if I could. I would never tell my children of my experiments but I will always be here for them and let them know that they can be open with me.

Comment #12 Liz (63.176.159.93) -

This is why I want to home school my daughter, like think of how things were then when we were in high school, and then think of how they are going to be in 15 yrs. when my daughter goes to high school, and you love your children so much that you never want anything to bad to ever happen to them, and that's the way I feel about my daughter. I know I can raise her really well and hope that my teachings will prevent her from wanting to do those things, but I was a kid once too, and I know that kids/teenagers are going to do what they want to do.

Comment #13 richel (121.1.3.194) -

I absolutely agree with dmichael, you should have a constant communication with your kids.

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Comment #14 Luke (63.176.159.245) -

Keep up the good work Mark. Five years is a true milestone! Your next milestone you ask? Until the end of your days!

Comment #15 crystal from asia -

Hi Jules, Usually, in our teenage years, we don't have yet a personality of our own. We are like a copycat. We just follow what's "in" in the crowd to be accepted. We are insecure for we are inexperienced and we want to experience what's to be the "in" thing to be part of a crowd and have an instant connection. BUt as we mature and gather more experiences, we will get over that "follower" attitude for we can stand in our own selves.

Comment #16 Joyce Taylor (63.176.159.196) -

Teens? The worst age. Teens donīt know what they want, they want it all together. It is a state of confusion. My daughter began going out with "friends", and coming in later and later at night, sometimes drunk. I said "enough", and waited one last night for her. I beat the daylights out of her and forbade her going out any more. She has later thanked be dearly for the lesson. I donīt defend physical punishment at all, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Makes them wake up!

Comment #17 cwemoy (63.176.159.53) -

The bad thing about peer pressure is it always makes one a part of the rest. If you restrain yourself from being part of the 'in thing', you are deemed boring.

I am amazed at how parents can fear fro their children. The thought of this kind of pressure robbing their children of character really bites into them.

If they went through it, they are best placed to guide their kids.

Comment #18 moy (63.176.159.16) -

Peer pressure is real, it is only that it catches up with us at different times. How about we all learn to be ready to go through that phase and even devise ways of dealing with it.

The good thing is that any kind of addiction has a way out...you only need to know that this life is lived once. If you were a straight A or B student and that happened to change, it is not an end to life.

Comment #19 teen a. ger (63.176.159.137) -

Well, I concur that parents need to be in constant communication with their kids but at the same time ensure that they do not seem to so much probe whatever they engage in. Home schooling might not be any helpful because at one point in life, your child will be on his or her own. It would be easier teaching and instilling values in preparation for the critical teenage years

Comment #20 Fhaye (203.87.192.186) -

At that stage, its really hard to get through to teens! They are going through so much at once, that they feel like the whole world is against them. While jealousy has been identified as a major issue for her, it is likely that there are other deeper issues that are more important and her emotions are just being packaged into "jealousy". In a case like this, everyone involved needs to look inward and see what they can do to help. There must be other things going on...talk to her teachers privately if possible, as talking to her peers may embarrass and upset her. Just try to get as accurate a picture as you can of all elements of her life and then work towards counselling, bringing in an unknown party, becuase, at that age, it is more likely that she will open up to that person.

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Comment #21 Lisa from Oklahoma City -

So your answer is to lock them up?!?!?!? Jesus!

Why not try something like helping them get over their developmental issues?

Comment #22 Anaid (63.176.159.135) -

I think it is not a good idea Liz. Those teenage issues are not preventable. And only your daughter will be the only one to decide and realize if she is to get engaged with those activities or not. As parents, we certainly do not want them doing those stuffs, but we are not their abductor nor their dictator, we are their guide. The best thing to do is to guide them.

Comment #23 Monica (63.176.159.73) -

I have to disagree with that Anaid, as parents we should take part of our child's life and decision, most especially during those times where they are in the bridge of confusion. I just that we as parents would know the proper approach o our kids so they wont mistaken our act and prevent them from being rebellious and stuff like that.

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