Peer Pressure Statistics

Peer pressure can be very trying for both teens and their parents. It is difficult to deal with situations whereby you are forced to try something that you might not necessarily want to, due to the pressure of 'fitting in'. This seems like a compulsion, because if you do not do what peers demand of you, the fear of being alone is paramount. And that is one of the main reasons why people give in to peer pressure. If one looks at some of the peer pressure statistics, one will be convinced of this fact. Peer pressure can happen at anytime in our lives, but it affects adolescents and teens primarily, because most of them have not developed the ability to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong at their age. Thus, many teens fall under peer pressure and take to things that can only be termed as 'bad habits' in our society. This article will try to tell you what some of these statistics are.

Peer Pressure Statistics: Key Points

These peer pressure statistics are meant to act as a warning sign for parents and children. Having a realistic knowledge of what is happening in society might help one become alert and probably not give in to these pressures.

• 30% of teens are offered drugs in high school and middle school. (Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base)
• 3.1 million American teens smoke. (American Lung Association)
• Of these, 25% of 17 and 18 year olds smoke daily.
• The Kaiser Foundation states that nearly 50% of adolescents between the ages of 12 - 18 feel pressured into having sex in relationships.
• Teens are infected by 4 million new STDs every year. (Allan Guttamacher Institute)
• The National Household Survey states that the use of marijuana has risen by a staggering 275% from the years '92 - '97.
• 9.5% teens have tried some form of cocaine in their lives. (Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base)
• 32.2% teens try their first drink before the age of 13. (Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base)
• 9% (14 years), 18% (15 - 17 Years), 22% (18 - 19 Years) of teens experience a pregnancy every year. (Communities Responding to the Challenge of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention)
• 25% of teens have been involved in at least one episode of binge drinking. (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

These negative statistics will drive any parent into spending countless sleepless nights. That is why it is important to be aware of these statistics so that you can prevent your child from being a part of them. Instead, one should be able to include such peer pressure activities in their lives so that they can be converted into positive peer pressure statistics instead.

Peer Pressure Lesson Plans

Why is it important to teach students about the ill effects of peer pressure? And more so over, how does one go about teaching students about the ill effects of giving in to peer pressure and the negative effects it can have on their life? By making children aware of peer pressure, you are actually helping them build the courage to say no. You are letting them know that peer pressure is wrong and that they have a choice in life. In the following section, we will take you through some of the peer pressure activities that you can carry out. This will help to ensure that your child does not become just another 'statistic' in the peer pressure statistics count. These activities can be easily carried out in the classroom, such that you can focus on a huge group of kids all at once.

Quiz Them
Divide the kids into groups of 3 - 4. Then pass around a questionnaire with multiple choices or simple questions that they need to discuss and answer. For the questions, include varied scenarios like-'If you see your friend drinking alcohol and he offered you some, what would you do? What is the right thing to do?' Similarly, formulate other questions which are based around the topics that you need to educate the kids about-like sex, drugs, stealing, cheating, and more. Then have them discuss the answers in groups. After that, let a representative come forward to discuss their conclusions. Discuss each point thoroughly so that it clears their ideas and drives the point home.

Having been an interactive class, it'll have more of an effect. So also, since they themselves came up with the answers, it'll be better received, instead of you having done the preaching.

Class Activity
Here's how you turn the issue of peer pressure into something that becomes a positive thing. Declare that you are starting a positive peer pressure lesson for the class. Tell them that you are looking for students who represent positive peer pressure. They help others in class by exerting a positive influence on them. For example, they tutor or point out against giving in to it. Let them know that the students who show this in action will be rewarded (like their names will be put up on board, they will be gifted something). This incentive will be very helpful and drive the students to take up the role of being a positive peer pressure 'influence'.

In addition to carrying out these plans in a classroom scenario, it is also important that parents are actively involved in their children's life. This will prevent the effects of peer pressure from affecting the child. In order for this to happen, the parents need to adopt the tool of open communication. The best way to ensure that this happens is to talk to your child and be actively involved in their life. Knowing who their friends are, as well as the parents of the child, also helps. Talking to them about their issues and problems will also give the strength to handle peer pressure effectively well.

The statistics that we see today cannot be taken as a positive sign. There needs to be an immediate action taken to ensure that these do not increase. This can only happen if you are aware of the situation and take the efforts to educate your children in turn. Because it is only then that we can eradicate vices and hope for a bright future.