Peer Pressure and Addiction: Everything You Need to Know
The definition of peer pressure is simple: an individual persuading a buddy to do something that the latter would otherwise avoid doing. Peer pressure can be beneficial at times, but when one is ‘pressured’ into doing anything, it is frequently unpleasant.
This phrase is most commonly associated with antisocial conduct, such as aggression or drug and alcohol experimentation that leads to addiction.
Addiction and Peer Pressure
Peer pressure, while it might be beneficial, can also push kids in the opposite way, into drugs and alcohol, and eventually addiction.
Peer pressure is especially prominent among teens, who have a strong desire to fit in and be acknowledged for being cool or adventurous. Due to the adolescent’s perception of beer and drugs as adult activities, the intake of these substances is frequently influenced by peer pressure.
According to research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Children, the urge to appear adventurous can frequently dampen a young person’s feeling of risk. Unfortunately, this can lead some people down a very dark path. This does not, however, only refer to addiction. Accidents, alcohol poisoning, STDs, and overdose are all possibilities.
Peer Influence and Behavioral Addiction
Peer pressure may extend to various types of addiction, not simply drug and alcohol use. Shopping, video gaming, gambling, and food addictions are examples of behavioral addictions.
Peer pressure and the need to impress others may even encourage young people to overdo certain otherwise healthy pastimes, such as sports. Sports may become a young person’s only coping technique, resulting in an addictive behavioral problem.
Parental Influence
Parental pressure can cause addictive behaviors in children. Parents and adults should strive to implant in their children the idea that failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and they should teach them the fundamentals of self-regulation. This is an excellent technique to teach kids on how to deal with negative rather than numbing them with addiction.
It is also a good idea to keep drugs and alcohol out of sight in your house, since you may be teaching young children the wrong notion about the use of such substances.
However, it is critical, to be frank about drugs and alcohol so the child can understand that you are there to aid with addiction.
Finally, consider the following:
Peer pressure may be seen in many places, not simply among classmates at a young age. Peer pressure may arise from any type of interaction, including those between adults and children. It is critical to teach young people about the dangers of succumbing to peer pressure while simultaneously ensuring that you are not putting pressure on the youngster.