Dominique G: John, I’m in high school, but a lot of my friends are involved with drugs and gangs. How do I keep them safe without sounding bossy? I really care about them, but I don’t want them to hate me for caring. How do I tell them about the dangers?
JW: First of all, Dominique, I want to say that I’m proud of you for being strong and for making the right choices. I know it can be really tough for a teenager to stand up to all the pressures and dangers that you’re up against. As a young child, your parents made most of the choices for you, like deciding who you spent time with. Now as a teen, these choices are up to you. At AMW, we’ve found that the folks at “Kids Health” offer some really good advice to young people in your situation. Here are some of their tips:
- Always listen to your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, that means there is something wrong with the situation for you, no matter what your friends say.
- Plan ahead for a potential pressure situation, if there is somewhere you want to go but think there might be drugs or alcohol involved, make sure to decide in advance and practice how you might handle the situation if you are offered anything.
- Think about how you can plan to escape an uncomfortable situation. Probably the most important thing is for you to learn how to feel comfortable saying “no.”
If you are with good friends, you should never have to apologize for not doing something you don’t want to do. Keep this in mind: making the right choices can help you be a positive influence on your friends.
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