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How Peer Pressure Draws Youth into a Negative Lifestyle

KG Gill

Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School

17/11/2017

#785338
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Peer pressure is a very serious concern in todays society. The negative effects of peer pressure

for youth include bad school grades, drug addiction and crime. First year students in high schools

are more prone to peer pressure than others because they rarely possess the mental strength to

defeat it. After elementary school, kids look beyond the guidance of their parents, and seek

answers from their friends and school mates. Peer pressure most commonly occurs at parties or

school where parental supervision is minimal. (Lyness, 2014, pg.2). However, indirect peer

pressure can be experienced anywhere. It is important to stray away from peer pressure as soon

as possible because eventually, you will evolve into becoming a bigger part of it. The purpose of

this paper is to provide an overview of the topic, as well as stating the causes and related effects

of peer pressure regarding school, drugs and crime.

For the past few years, Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary constantly referred to as a mess, over-

crowded and inappropriate (CBC, 2015, pg.1). Most of those statements were regarding

drugs, alcohol, and other school issues. Bold statements like that dont come out of nowhere. In

fact, according to The Canadian Lung Association, Negative influencing from peers is the main

reason those between the ages of 12 and 17 start drinking and smoking (Adams, 2011, p.1).

Before they know it, theyve dug themselves deeper and deeper into drugs and they will find

themselves being addicted. To date, there are approximately, 24,500 known youth gangs

with about 772,500 youth members. That's about 7% of the US's teen population (Angst, 2010,

p.1). No one is born a gangster, but a lot of gangsters are dragged into the life through negative

influencing. To make thing worse, once someone is accepted into gang, it is very difficult to try

and leave; especially if it is a child. A new University of Maryland-led study describes that peer
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group influences affect children much earlier than researchers have suspected (Pedro, 2013,

pg.1). Children in elementary often lack confidence and the ability to tell right and wrong the

way adults do. The first experience of peer pressure for youth usually involves lying or cheating.

Identical to Drugs and Crime, the feeling of needing to please others is also present in smaller

levels of peer pressure as well.

It is very important for high schoolers to understand the meaning and effects of peer pressure

(UOC, 2016, pg.1). Often, society thinks only older kids and adults could be the only ones

exposed to peer pressure. When in reality, it can start as soon and school does. Many youth are

being encouraged decisions to their friends best interest, but they do not think about themselves.

It is clear that peer pressure is a topic that is needed to be talked about more because its harmful

all throughout a childs most important years. The effects that crime, drugs and a bad school life

can have on a child are unsafe for any childrens futures. Given that, best way to avoid or defeat

peer pressure is to prepare and gain key information about it.

Repeatedly in many cultures, people always live under the fear of what others will think of them.

But in reality, peoples views and opinions shouldnt matter because everyone is different

emotionally, mentally and physically. Young and inexperienced humans who lack self-confidence

are certain to come face to face peer pressure, usually during high school. 44% of all teens are

pressured to lie or cheat at school. (Peer Pressure, 2017, pg.1). These are all not very strong

moral principals which can be very damaging to a young more distant from parental supervision.
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It is key to develop a strong focus, because peer pressure does the complete opposite; it

deteriorates it.

Technology plays a part. But so are the traditional teenage pressures of money and status

and how to quickly acquire them.

Its through the school system. Simple as that, says Kash Heed, British Columbias

former solicitor general.

A friend of a friend introduces them. They hang around the schools. They associate with

the kids before and after school and they encourage the kids to get involved as an easy

way to make money and kids are not realizing the consequences of their behaviour.

(Deol, 2017, pg.1).

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Besides a bumpy and unhealthy school life, the next step into peer pressure is drugs and

substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol can control a students everyday life by storm. Every day,

a new student tries a new substance and falls deeper and deeper into the hardship that is peer

pressure. Teenagers lose sleep when they use drugs or alcohol and their health is put in danger

(Teen Ink, 2014, pg.1). This demonstrates that people should just say no when offered drugs or

alcohol because it can be looked at as a life saving decision for some. Another horrible

occurrence that happens to teens when they use drugs and or alcohol is that many cells in their

bodies are destroyed or affected because of the use. Of course, this results in doing poorly in

school, but also not living up to the dream that they may or may not have set for them. Many

addicts do not even attend college.

Every year, approximately 1300 teen deaths are caused by drugs and/or alcohol in the USA

(Teen Ink, 2014, pg.1). In many instances, the victim doesnt start taking drugs by choice. It was

most likely due to someone offering the harmful substances to the victim and because of it; there

was a harsh end to a young life. Unfortunately, many people are attracted by the wild partying,

popularity and fun that drugs might bring to them in the short term. Situations like these are why

extracurricular activities are open to all youth. Clubs and teams will also help you make friends

memories and they will keep youth a healthy and smart path to a successful life.

The long term effects of drugs are deadly and they worsen over time. 42% of high school

dropouts are caused by alcohol abuse (Newport, 2016, pg.1). In a spur of a moment, women and
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men who were once innocent with bright futures turn into a wild and uncontrollable adults.

Alcoholics Anonymous is organization of former alcoholics who visit high schools around

Surrey and tell their dark stories of their past regarding drugs and alcohol. What stands out is that

each one of the speakers was influenced by others, a lot of them at an early age. 30% of

students are pressured to do drugs in middle school and high school (Peer Pressure, 2017, pg.

1), this is a sad yet true fact. The most common long term effects of drugs are anxiety, depression

and paranoia.

Violent crime is up 36 percent in Surrey this year, due in large part to a gang turf war that led to

an unprecedented number of public shootings. (Bolan, 2017, pg.1). The city of Surrey is
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constantly under pressure for their gang activity, particularly involving Indo-Canadian males.

One of the biggest questions that arise from this situation is How do these kids get involved?

The answer is right through their own family. Since many of their parents are at work providing

for the family. The children look up to their older brothers and cousins as role models, and many

of the ones pulling the triggers are kids (Global News, 2016).

I mean ever since I was a little kid, I would always look up to my cousins. I said Man I want to

be like these guys, they were gangsters,

Most of them are doing jail time, some of them are dead. But these kids today, they will just

shoot over anything. Theyre all trigger- happy, they think theyre living in a movie or

something.

This newer generation is just too crazy, and its even crazier because I know they looked up to

me. (Anonymous Ex-Gang Member, Global News, 2016)

Crime is the last resort for someone whos been a victim of peer pressure. When youre in too

deep, the most common ways to escape this life is either death or jail. 35% of criminals have

said that theyre first crime was associated with peer pressure (Teen Ink, 2014, pg.1). Criminals

are a even bigger part of the peer pressure chain because they do not only act of pressure, but

they also throw pressure onto others. Many young children are attracted into crime because of

the quick money and lavish lifestyle that they can live, but they do not consider the consequences
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of illegal activity. Keeping the youth away from crime is very important because they are our

greatest treasure. The future relies on young people. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of

our society and they are weakening the environment. (Nelson Mandela, n.d.).

Trouble at school, Drugs and Crime, all three are different in terms of severity and danger. Yet

they are still very similar because all of the three are mostly initiated by peer pressure. Without a

doubt, negative influencing from peers is something that most young people are going to have to

face while growing up. So preparing for it the least one can do because with modern inventions

such as social media and texting, the presence of peer pressure and friends and peers is going to

ramp up.
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It is clear that peer pressure is a topic worth educating children and spreading awareness about.

By doing so its certain that not only crime rates will decrease, but it will create a cleaner and

healthier future for everyone in the world. It can be incredibly difficult to deal with, but those

who are able to find the confidence to speak up will not only stop themselves making some

stupid decisions, but they may also give others the courage that they need to say no as well.

(Teen Ink, 2014, pg.1). In summary, peer pressure does draw youth into a negative life, but the

effects and development can be contained through support and courage because no one is in this

world to live up to your expectations and youre not here to live up to theirs.

REFRENCES

Adams, C (n.d). Breathe. Retrieved, September, 15, 2017, from

www.blog.lung.ca

Lyness, D. (2015). Kids Health. Retrieved, September, 30, 2017, from

http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/peer-pressure.html

Psychology Today. (2010). Teen Gangstas. Retrieved, November, 11, 2017 from
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https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201010/teen-gangstas

Pedro. (2012) Bad Grades Because of Peer Pressure? Retrieved November, 2, 2011 from

https://theeconomyofmeaning.com/2013/06/06/bad-grades-because-of-peer-pressure-it-

starts-earlier-than-you-think/

UOC (2015) 6 Ways to Avoid Peer Pressure in Youth. Retrieved November, 10, 2017 from

https://equippinggodlywomen.com/parenting/help-children-resist-peer-pressure/

Peer Pressure (2017) Statistics & Facts, Retrieved November, 9, 2017 from

https://brooklynmoffitt.wordpress.com/statistics-facts/

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Pressure

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surrey-drug-trade/
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Bellerichard, C. (2015) Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary Students Disciplined Over Explicit Photos,
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lord-tweedsmuir-secondary-students-

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Bolan, K (2017), Surrey RCMP Stats, Retrieved, November, 17, 2017 from

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTtSYKpGtrk

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