Under Pressure

by Jesse Rizzo staff writer

few years back my friend flew in from Maryland and a group of our friends got together when a few of the guys started using marijuana; they asked me if I wanted to try it, but the thought hadn’t crossed my mind before. I didn’t really have any interest in it, and luckily they assured me that I didn’t have to. Despite my luck in these circumstances, many people aren’t as lucky and end up getting pressured into things. Michelle Morrison, a school counselor at Central reasons “that peer pressure on both sides is about feeling

Athe need to belong.” It’s that feeling of wanting to fit in or not wanting to be left out that forces teens to make risky decisions. Peer pressure is defined by Oxford Languages as “the influence from members of one’s peer group.” This may not always involve drugs or alcohol, but it is common for peer pressure. We are taught in school that drugs are dangerous, even fatal, so it’s best to avoid them at all costs. This causes an issue though. When you tell someone, especially high schoolers, not to do

Graphic: A. McGraw

Peer pressure can be a major contributor to addiction, especially for teenagers

something the first time, they think, I want to do that. Jeffery Glikman, a social sciences teacher at Central states that “if students knew the risks, short term and long term effects of drugs and alcohol, they would be able to make more informed decisions.” This is where the school needs to improve; if students do not know the actual effects of the substances at hand then they will end up making decisions they’ll regret in the long run. If schools were to educate students more on the relevance of substance abuse to our everyday lives, students would be able to better understand the consequences of caving into peer pressure. Despite the potential for adults to be peer pressured, it is undoubtedly more prevalent in teens. We’ve all seen people posting on social media showing themselves hanging out and partying with their friends, maybe holding a Solo cup in their hand with bottles of liquor or drug paraphernalia present in the background; some of us while looking at this might feel left out, and it’s that exact feeling that makes peer pressure work so well on high schoolers. They’re more likely to do whatever the people around them are doing because they want to fit in, so if their friends are using drugs or alcohol then many high schoolers will join in even if they’re against the idea. There is also a ethical problem with peer pressure; some of the things being pressured on people may go against religious beliefs or personal boundaries. With that being said, students will still go against their beliefs to try to fit in. Teenagers don’t feel accepted in our community and aren’t confident enough to follow their own path. Glikman notes that “if we could build students’ self-confidence and self-worth, it doesn’t matter if everyone’s doing it if a student is confident with who they are, and what they stand for, everyone else is doing it, but that student is living their best life.”

Peer pressure, especially at school creates a general feeling of uneasiness for the victims of it. To make matters worse, reaching out for help becomes difficult because of the stigma around it. One way to help with this is to promote utilizing school counselors and make them more accessible. If students have someone who isn’t a teacher but just a person who’s willing to listen, they might be more likely to speak up about their problems and get help. If you see someone being peer pressured, getting an adult is the best option to help, but they might not always be available. If you’re going to help the person yourself, you need to make sure you do it right. Some“It’s that exact feeling that one who is being pressured makes peer pressure work needs someone to underso well on high schoolers. They’re more likely to do whatever the people around stand their side of the situation and have their unwilling ness justified by someone else. Christian Cikity ‘23 them are doing because they explains that “depending want to fit in.” on each individual case it can really mess with someone’s mood, and school performance. Things like drugs, alcohol, and nicotine can affect kids’ behaviors and emotions.” If you see that someone has had a sudden behavior change or are trying things they wouldn’t normally do, they may be experiencing peer pressure from their circle. In an instance like this, you should talk with a school counselor, teacher, or some type of adult. Peer pressure puts a constant strain on our community and we need to find more ways to build student confidence and more ways for kids to feel accepted within our community. This job is not only for the school but for all of us to reach out and help when someone is in need. //