Drugs, alcohol, smoking, most of us are going to do it whether or not we’re told not

to– it’s part of high school. Many teenagers have all dealt with peer pressure. It is influence by members of one’s peer group and often leads to negativity such as having a horrible body image and low self-esteem.

Social pressure can come from the people you are hanging out with and how these friends are influencing one another. Not only is peer pressure based on mental health, but kids do it to show off or to look cool to fit in their social group. They are worried about how their own friends might tease them if they don’t do drugs or drink alcohol. 

If friends bully their own group, then teenagers turn to bad habits such as smoking, skipping school, and drinking. Wanting to look cool can lead to a plethora of issues.

A senior, who has opted to remain anonymous, expressed their thoughts on peer pressure and how it affected them in the past. 

“You need to be careful of who you’re friends with because, in the future, they won’t always be there for you,” said Anonymous. “Instead they are there to give you bad things or give bad advice.”

It is important for teens to think about their actions since they are more vulnerable and prone to bad decision-making at this age. Bad decisions can lead to not just addiction, but also your behavior leading to embarrassing memories that are regretful and can potentially harm your future.

“I’ve done things I shouldn’t have done, now I look back and I’m ashamed of myself,”

said anonymous. 

Hopefully, someday, teens will stray away from bad trends and instead of turning to addiction. Teens can pick up a hobby and making their teenage life worthwhile. However, first, we need to get back to the basics and learn how to make the right decisions.