When you hear the words Peer Pressure, more than likely you imagine scenes like these: a bully offering a kid drugs in the playground; a first-year college student drinking at a fraternity party because he thinks “everybody’s doing it;” or someone trying E for the first time because her friends say “It’ll make you feel SOOO good.” But what you may not realize is that Peer Pressure can be a positive thing. The statistics show that MOST of you out there are NOT using drugs. Use the POWER you have with your friends to make sure the pressure goes both ways. You have more influence with your friends than any anti-drug commercial, college administrator, or prevention brochure. You have the POWER to change the atmosphere on your campus — GO FOR IT.

Let’s face it: Maybe you don’t want to NOT do drugs. Maybe you feel like it’s fun to do E when you’re clubbing or you take the edge off school stress by having a drink or smoking pot. We don’t think these are the healthiest choices, but hey, you’re an adult, it’s your decision. We’re not going to tell you to “just say no.”

But here’s a challenge for you: The next time you’re coming back from class on Thursday night, and you’re stressed about school or a relationship or whatever, stop to think: If I COULDN’T drink or smoke or pop a pill, what would I do to deal with how I’m feeling right now? Just challenge yourself to come up with an alternative— maybe it’s going for a run, calling up a friend, going to a movie, or writing in a journal. And you could always go to the bar or club and choose not to use— imagine the novelty of remembering the whole night’s events! Even if you still choose to go out and drink or get high, the point is to always have another option, so that you can choose to do something healthy instead of doing a drug. Don’t let getting high become the only way you know how to deal with stuff. It may sound so cliché but admit it: it makes sense.