Growing up means becoming independent, experiencing new things and making your own decisions. During this time you may feel under pressure to fit in with your friends even if this means doing things you don't really want to. It is important to be your own person although you may need to work on building your confidence to achieve this.
At some point you may be offered alcohol or drugs. Remember that drugs and alcohol can lead to putting yourself in situations you wouldn't normally be in. This could mean having sex when you didn't intend to and being more likely to put yourself at risk by having unprotected sex. Many young people often have sex for the first time when they are drunk and regret it afterwards. It is helpful to think and even practice how you would deal with situations such as these before they happen. For instance, think about how you would tell someone you didn't want to have sex, or that you want to use a condom. Practice putting a condom on (you can try using a banana as a prop if it helps), this means you'll feel more confident doing it for real if the situation occurs.
Links
You will find more detailed information on drugs and alcohol at the link below.
- Know the Score: www.knowthescore.info
