what should I do if my best friend is pressuring me to smoke?

Question

My best guy friend and I have been smoking afterschool, before our parents come to pick us up, and things got way out of hand yesterday. we smoked two each, and then went into a store (my school is on mainstreet...haha) and i stole three things! then we went back to school and one of his friends had a bottle of vodka, and he took a swig. I dont want to turn into a bad person, and i feel secluded from my old friends and family now that i have been doing this. I dont know how to stop, but i still want to be friends with the guy im doing this with. HELP ME :(

Answer 1

If he's a friend worth having he will be ok with you saying things like "Naw man, I don't think I'll have any" You'd be surprised how easy it really is once you try. When i was in high school all of my friends started out smoking cigarettes, then they would all get drunk at parties, and then it esculated to smoking pot and experimenting with other drugs. I stuck to my morals and would just no I don't think I'll have any. Some of my best friends, many who were athletes and came from prominent families became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Many are either in jail or have had kids way to young and have had them taken away from them. It's really sad. I wish I could have done something for my friends but I didn't. You are on a downward spiral and it could get out of hand fast. Just be strong and tell them you just don't want to. I think to much pressure is put on young people to try and help save their friends too. But right now, you need to concentrate on saving yourself. You sound like a pretty smart guy (except for the stealing part) and you know the right thing to do. Even though you like this guy and want to be his friend, it may be at thr price of becoming a drug addicted alcoholic that ends up in jail for theft. You are responsible for choosing the path that your life will be. At this time in high school is when that choice really starts. Not only could this mess up your high school and college years but think about the long term affects of what you are doing. Please be strong and do what is right. Surround yourself with a better set of friends. After awhile of me saying no to my friends some did end up calling me "a goody goody" "you think you are better than us" etc. They will say alot. But that is only because they are on this downward spiral going just alittle faster than you. My best friend who was probablly the worst out of my whole set of friends for drinking, smoking pot, and having sex (ended up pregnant at 15) was the main one calling me these names. It hurt me very badly since I loved her very much. I had to make a choice for myself and that was to love myself rather than trying to save the whole group. We've been out of school for over 10 years and she still calls me and we talk. She has never mentioned anything about saying those things to me or the fact that I didn't do the things she did. I also have never mentioned those things to her. I love her no matter what and that is what true friends are. If this guy is a real friend, he'll stick around! Please be careful, be smart, and stop stealing. :)

Answer 2

Just say that you might have a cigarette later or have a drink later or steal something later - and keep saying it until later never comes. Be prepared for your friend to become a little defensive and maybe make comments about it (because chances are, he feels a bit guilty about it too and might feel that you look down on him).

Then maybe you can say that you think he's cool and you're happy to hang with him but you're just not into the other stuff.

It can be hard, especially when you're young, but this can be what shapes you.

I always say: you choose your ending. Choose your path wisely now so that your ending is what you want it to be.

Good on you for even thinking about it.

Answer 3

If the both of you get into drugs... im pretty sure you wont have the same cell and you wont be friends anymore and whats next, Meth then Heroin then Cocaine/Crack friends grow apart, usually do to meeting new people, unfortunately for you its drugs. If you smoke, you run the risk of ruining your life(but keep a friend for now) If you dont smoke, your more likely to have a successful life with plenty more friends

Answer 4

Don't go down this path- it's BAD. Be strong and stand up for yourself by saying NO. It's weaker to give in and follow the herd. Smoking, stealing, drinking? Stealing is part of growing up, I say. But drinking & smoking are just plain stupid. They are both addictive and it doesn't take much to become addicted to either. I don't think this friend is much of a friend if he doesn't respect your decision not to partake in his activities. Be your own person.

Answer 5

You are in bad company and naturally you would like these people thats how vices come to all of us. The best thing though hard is to avoid all these friends and concentrate on your studies so that you will study well and become a big rich man and then you can enjoy as much as you like.

Answer 6

Its the old cliche but if he's your real friend, then you can tell him that he's making you feel uncomfortable and that you dont want to do those things

And then you need to be strong and brave, and if he cant hack it that you dont want to do those things, then you need to stop hanging out

If your friendship is worth somthing to him then he'll get it together and stop pressuring you.

And to be devil's advocate, dont stop doing these things if you enjoy them just because society says they are wrong. You need to think about WHY they are wrong before you just take it on face value.

Answer 7

tell them your mom smelled the booze on you so now she tests you with those in house drug/alcohol test kits when you get home if you look funny or are acting weird. sooner or later they'll quit pressuring you to do bad things like stealing. what do you think is worse smoking , drinking or getting busted for theft? dude they are all bad for somebody who is still in school. You got the rest of your life to drink, smoke.. just graduate 1st.

Answer 8

I don't think the problem is your friend. Keeping friendship doesn't necessarily require keeping in company all the time. Try avoiding his company showing strong reasons. If his company attracts you then try to be with him in places that is good enough to ensure that he will not be able to do anything bad.

Answer 9

Find a new best friend! This guy is trouble.. Drop him like a bad habit quicker the better!

Answer 10

well you feel guilty b/c you know that your doing something wrong. if you are having a hard time stopping tell your friend you wanna still be friends but you don't want to do those things anymore, if he cant except that then stop hanging with him.