Feeling pressured to take drugs? Here are 10 ways to deal with it

1. Remember that you’re not alone. It’s easy to think you’re the only one who’s not tried drugs but, actually, most young people don’t take drugs.
2. Work out where you stand on issues like sex, drugs and alcohol. Knowing your own mind makes it easier to stay true to yourself.
3. Prepare yourself. Think about how you’d like to respond when someone offers you drugs so you know what to say.
4. Try to understand who’s offering you the drugs and why. Friends should understand if you say no, people you don’t know you very well may expect something in return.
5. Say no firmly but clearly and without making a big deal about it. If they try to persuade you, don’t feel like you have to change your mind.
6. Remember that, although they may not show it, your mates will respect you more if you’re assertive and clear about what you do and don’t want to do.
7. Take a look around. You’ll soon see that you’re not the only one worrying about what other people think of you. Try to focus on your own opinion of yourself - in the end, that’s all that matters.
8. Worried about your mates being pressured? Don’t keep it to yourself, talk to them, or someone you trust.
9. If you’re finding it hard to be yourself within your group, take a step back, and think about whether it’s time to find a new crowd to hang out with.
10. Before trying anything new it makes sense to know what’s what. You can find out more about different drugs on the Drugs A to Z or call FRANK on 0300 123 6600 at any time, day or night.

New Psychoactive Substances - 'Legal Highs' - Information from Addaction

Sixty-six percent of young people surveyed had tried new psychoactive substances (NPS, formerly known as ‘legal highs’) at least once, according to new research. Those surveyed also reported significant adverse effects, such as delusions, hallucinations, panic and anxiety.

“After annihilation 2, I was smoking everyday and regularly seeing withdrawal symptoms that are similar to crack cocaine and heroin (in my uneducated opinion) I would shake and sweat and crave more, which is what made me stop”

(Male, 22 - 23)

“It is a massive struggle to come off of legal highs – it took me about 3 months – I didn’t ask for help because I was embarrassed – I was embarrassed – it’s classed as the trampy way to get high”

(Male, 16)

Addaction commissioned TONIC (www.tonic.org.uk), an organisation with extensive experience of researching young people’s issues, to carry out the research, as part of our role as a member of the Young People’s Health Partnership. The study surveyed 1,604 young people aged under-25 in England, 1,604 in online and written responses, with a further 20 interviewed by telephone.

The findings also show:

• Most young people surveyed used NPS alongside illicit drugs.
• While Psychoactive Substances Act has made these substances harder to purchase, availability from street dealers means that the young people surveyed only viewed this as an inconvenience.
• NPS were not seen as safe or as safer than illicit drugs. In fact, their use was seen as heavily stigmatised.
• Young people also reported stopping using NPS after seeing other people’s use.

The Young People’s Health Partnership (YPHP) is a seven strong consortium of organisations working with the Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England to raise the profile of the health agenda across the voluntary sector.

The survey responses provide strong recommendations for treatment services, indicating that established interventions are seen as effective but more needs to be done to reach NPS users:

• Use social media, internet and phone tools to reach young people, promote the help that is available and offer them anonymised support.
• Work to reduce the stigma that young people increasingly feel subject to because of their NPS use.
• Incorporate credible NPS harm reduction messages into wider health and wellbeing support rather than activities that focus solely on the substance use.