The teenage years bring discovery and change. Many wonderful things happen as your son makes friends and forms his value system. Friendships form that can last a lifetime, but your son must contend with the dangers of teen peer pressure. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery in North Carolina, we offer mental health and substance abuse treatment for teen boys. To learn how to help your child deal with peer pressure in healthy ways, reach out to our adolescent treatment center today at 866.300.5275.

How to Talk About Teen Peer Pressure

If your son comes to you with concerns about peer pressure, address the subject calmly. Don’t immediately tell them to avoid the people pressuring him. This advice could make him reluctant to communicate openly with you in the future. Instead, help him understand what constitutes true friendship.

For example, real friends don’t pressure one another to do something hurtful, illegal, or dangerous.

Strengthen the Bond at Home

When you talk to your son about peer pressure, explain that this form of manipulation differs from joking around or getting close to others. Explain that it’s important to respect others’ decisions and to demand respect for his own. Let it be his choice whether or not to continue spending time with those placing pressure on him.

Here are some tips on how to accomplish this:

• Listen actively: Listen to what your teenager says and respect their opinions. Wait until they finish talking before offering your view, and keep your voice neutral as you help them work through their situation.
• Create a strong family bond: Creating strong bonds at home gives your son an example of healthy relationships he can use to compare his friendships. Additionally, it helps to speak with your adolescent or teenage son about the importance of building high-quality friendships with others.
• Don’t overreact: As a parent, you want to protect your child. This desire may lead to overreacting to stories about peer pressure and bullying. Do your best to stay calm. Otherwise, your son may clam up before you get a chance to understand what’s going on. It may help to focus on your son’s needs during the conversation.
• Watch what you say: During adolescence and the teenage years, your son may place a high value on self-image. Peer pressure often plays a significant role in this area. If he wears clothes that you find inappropriate or sporting a funky new hairdo, be careful how you broach the subject. Unless it’s a matter of hygiene or inappropriate clothing, let him express his style.

Set Boundaries to Avoid Peer Pressure

If you know your child’s friends, you better understand the type of people he hangs out with each day. Encourage your son to invite his friends over for dinner or to hang out. The more you know about those surrounding your child, the better you can help him handle peer pressure.

Set clear expectations and boundaries when it comes to your child’s health and safety. Additionally, you can let him know that it’s not OK to place himself or others in danger to get points with his friends.

Peer Pressure and Substance Abuse

When you encourage your son to make his own decisions, he learns to reason through the pros and cons of various choices. This process is critical when it comes to peer pressure and substance abuse. Please encourage your child to talk through problems with you but help him resolve them on his own. That way, when faced with a decision whether or not to use drugs and alcohol, he can weigh the pros and cons to his health and mental well-being.

Find Teen Substance Treatment in North Carolina

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we offer counseling and medical assistance for adolescents and teens in recovery. From equine therapy to family therapy services, we take a holistic view of your son’s individual treatment plan. Further, our academic instruction allows your son to continue his education during his time at our facility. Contact us at 866.300.5275, or contact us online to find out how to get your son the help he needs to overcome addiction.