How To Deal When People Around You Offer You Illegal Drugs

Where are the most usual places people find, buy, share, or offer drugs?

List them down.

Drugs can be found in places where people who use them live or stay. Drugs can be found in parties, in the streets, in night clubs, in school, in the neighborhood and sometimes even at home.

People who have tried and are dependent on drugs find it hard to refuse when they are offered more drugs. It would be easy to tell you that when people offer you drugs you just say no. But it isn’t that easy to say no. It’s not easy to say no to drugs when you are already addicted to drugs. It also isn’t easy to say no when the people who offer these to you are in your school, in your community, and even in your house. It’s not easy. But that’s life, the right thing isn’t always easy to do.

It won’t be easy, but it still is possible.

So how do you start avoiding drugs or how do you start saying no to drugs? Here are a few options:

 

Option 1: Make sure to also be around people who are emotionally and physically healthy.

In other words: surround yourself with good people who don’t use drugs.

It’s been stated and studied that you are the average person of the five people you spend time with. Meaning if you hang out with people who are drug users or if you are around friends who use drugs, you will most likely be a drug user as well. If not now, eventually.

Do not get me wrong, you don’t have to judge them or rebuke them for using drugs. You don’t have to discriminate them. Sure, you can accept them, but you don’t have to be like them. You can accept what they do, but you don’t have to adjust to them. Just because some of your friends are using drugs doesn’t mean you should use drugs as well. If they force you to do something you don’t want to do, then those aren’t real friends.

Surround yourself with people who influence your life in a positive and good way.

Option 2: Read up.

Know what illegal drugs are and what harmful effects they cause. Know what you’re up against. Because the last thing you should do is underestimate what it is and what it does to the people who use them.

Know that the abuse of hard drugs or narcotics could lead to death due to infection and overdose. Familiarize yourself with the physical and mental illnesses that are associated with drug abuse. Look at before and after pictures of super stars, actors, rock stars, celebrities, and other people who got addicted to drugs. Realize what drug abuse does to a person’s body.

The more informed you are the better. This way when you’re tempted or when you’re offered these drugs you start to ask yourself, “is it worth it?”

 

Option 3: (If you find it hard to decline drug offers) Think about what other things in life you can achieve.

Start making goals for yourself. Keep yourself occupied. And start thinking about your future more. You have to sacrifice what you want to achieve what you want to become.

There are more fulfilling activities other than drugs. Maybe investing in a career, or practicing an instrument. Drugs can destroy family ties, so spend time strengthening bonds with your family and friends.

 

Option 4: Prepare yourself for occasions where strangers may offer drugs to you.

If you know or if you’re aware of the times/places where/where people will be there to sell/give/offer you drugs, be prepared. Prepare an excuse. Or just say no. Be calm and firm.

Prepare yourself beforehand.

Be calm but firm. Say no, loud and clear.

 

Option 5: Have a mentor

If you’re one of those people who has been exposed to drugs for so long that even when you try to fight the urge, you find it extremely hard to stop taking them... find a mentor.

Look for someone who’s been through the same situation and ask them for help. Ask for their support and their advice. Let them remind you that although it’s hard, it’s not impossible.

 

Option 6: If a situation is bad... call the police secretly. Or tell an adult.

Drug dealers are usually drug users. They can be dangerous. If they are dangerous, and they insist on following you even after you declined their offer, go to a crowded area, tell an adult or call the police. Drug users can be very violent at times, so be alert and be careful.

 

Option 7: Walk away or change the topic

When a friend offers you drugs, either just walk away or change the topic. Or make an excuse.  Do whatever you can to say no.

 

Option 8: Ask for help

You can’t do everything alone. If you find it hard to go against peer pressure, ask for help. Again, find a friend or friends who are on the same side as you. Surround yourself with people who have the same values as you.