Peer Pressure is when a certain individual is forced or intimidated by a majority, to do or commit and act in order to feel like they fit in around their friends.

Peer Pressure takes place all over the country, it mainly takes place in Middle Schools and High Schools. It also takes place at parties where there may be alcohol and drugs. At these parties kids may be pressured into drinking and doing drugs, or other things that could lead to trouble. Statistics show that one - third of teenage males feel pressure from their friends to have sex

The main cause of Peer Pressure is an individuals desire to fit in. Little family support can cause one to feel left out, so in order to feel wanted they give in to their friends and sometimes make the wrong choices. 41% of teens are pressured into drinking alcohol and doing drugs.

Teens with a limited amount of boundaries and rules at home are more likely to give in to peer pressure than those teens with strict rules and expectations. Teens don’t expect their peers to respect them if they stand up for themselves, therefore they succumb to peer pressure. If you don’t respect yourself then its easier to give in to your friends.

Peer Pressure comes in many different forms. People can pressure their friends into having sex, 23% of Females feel Pressure from their friends to have sex. Alcohol, Drug, and Smoking abuse are the most common types of Peer pressure, The Canadian Lung Association found that 70 percent of teens who smoke have friends who smoke or started smoking because of peer pressure. According to the Underage Research Drinking Initiative, two-thirds of 10th graders and two-fifths of 8th graders have tried alcohol. The Monitoring the Future Survey from the same initiative found that approximately 30 percent of 8th graders have used illicit drugs.

If you are pressured into drinking alcohol or doing drugs there are many severe consequences. Addictions and terrible habits can emerge from there abuses. As you get older your health may fail due to the abuse you put your body through as a youth. Diseases like cancer, liver failure and brain disorders can emerge from drinking or doing drugs. These disorders, that all result from the poisons you put into your body due to Peer Pressure won’t just effect you, but it very well could effect you loved ones as well, both mentally and physically.

Peer Pressure isn't only negative, there are positive aspects of it as well. Peer Pressure can help you adopt good habits as a youth, which will stay with you and help you in life. Your friends and others around you can helpfully pressure you into achieving your goals, and making you strive to be the best person you could possible be. Giving up bad habits could help you become a better person, both physically and mentally. Your attitude could change drastically.

Be the first person your child comes to when it comes to Drugs, Drinking, and Smoking. Let your Teen make you the scapegoat, this means that your teen can say that their parents don’t allow them to do a certain thing, or that their parents would be mad at them if they did that. Be available for your teen, this means that they should feel comfortable to ask you about certain things, and by doing this you can help them come up with a better solution then the one they would think of alone.

30% of teens are offered Drugs in High School and Middle School due to Peer Pressure. 3.1 Million American Teens Smoke due to Peer Pressure. There are 5,000 Suicides every year due to Peer Pressure. 32.2% of teens tried their first alcoholic beverage before the age of 13 due to Peer Pressure.

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