Someone verbally encourages or pressures you to do something you may be hesitant about

If some directly asks, teases or dares you to do something like vaping or drugs, its spoken pressure

A friend says, “Come on, just try it once, everyone is doing it, it's not dangerous.”

Influence that comes from hearing about what others are doing rather than being personally invited or offered

If you hear people talking about vaping like it’s normal or see it on a social media platform, and feel pressured to do it, or left out because you aren’t

Watching Snapchat stories where everyone is vaping and you feel left out

Feeling pressure to fit in without anyone directly saying anything

People start silently distancing themselves due to them vaping and you not

If people around you are vaping and you feel like you need to in order to be accepted

You see everyone else vaping at a party and feel like you should too, even though no one says anything to you

A person actively offers you something like a vape, and expects you to accept it

Look for clear offers or hand-off such as someone saying “here take it”, or “here take a hit”

Can cause a situation where saying “no” feels uncomfortable

Friends or peers encourage you to make healthy, smart choices

If someone praises you for saying no, supports your decision or sets a good example

A friend says, “I’m glad you don’t vape either, it's important we stay healthy

Could also be a teammate pressuring you to eat healthy or quit so you perform better

Friends or peers pressure you to make bad decisions, often done by making fun of you or making you feel like you are letting them down

Teasing, insults, guilt tripping or treats to your social status are all common examples

Someone says that “you are such a baby” for not making a bad decision or questioning your friendship

You are hanging with your friends after school, and someone brings out a vape, and offers you a hit.

Politely decline and stay firm. You can casually say you don’t vape and continue doing something else with the group. If they keep pressuring you, you can excuse yourself and go home or call someone to pick you up.

You go to a party where a lot of people are vaping. Even if no one directly offers you a vape, you feel pressured to join in.

Remind yourself why you don’t want to vape. Find friends who aren’t vaping or stay in areas with people who aren’t using. Try to find something to do other than vape such as playing games with others at the party. Involve yourself without vaping.

During lunch or a bathroom break some classmates invite you to go vape with them, acting like it's normal.

Say you’re not interested and walk away. You can use excuses like you are very hungry and want to eat, or that you have a big homework assignment to work on, or a test to study for. Avoid hanging out with them in the future if they continue to pressure you.

You are in a group chat where friends send pictures or videos of themselves vaping. They joke about it and make jokes asking about when you are going to join in.

Ignore the comments or leave the group chat if they continue to pressure you. You can also privately message or create a group chat with the other members that don’t agree with vaping.

Teammates are vaping after practice to relax, and encourage you to try it.

Focus on your individual goals, and remember that while it can cause short term relaxation, the long term effects are detrimental to athletic performance.

Approximately 90% of teenagers have experienced peer pressure before. 

There’s a number of reasons teenagers give into peer pressure; they may not have a lot of friends and fear losing the ones they have, they may feel it’s easier to go with a crowd then oppose it, etc. 

80% of teens began smoking due to peer pressure. 

75% of teenagers have tried alcohol due to peer pressure. 

Girls are more likely to give into peer pressure, whether it’s positive or negative.