Pressure, Risk and Keeping Safe

Imagine you are at a party and someone hands you a drink, saying 'everyone is doing it.' Your heart beats faster. You are not sure what to do. Moments like this happen to young people every day — and knowing how to handle them in advance makes all the difference. In this lesson you will build a toolkit of real knowledge and skills: what tobacco, alcohol and other drugs actually do to your body, how pressure works and why it feels so strong, and exactly what to say or do when you need to stay safe or get help for someone else. 💪

Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that makes your brain crave more each time you use it. Cigarette smoke also contains tar, which coats the lungs and reduces the amount of oxygen you can absorb, and carbon monoxide, which replaces oxygen in your blood. Over time, tobacco damages the heart, causes lung disease and greatly increases the risk of cancer. Even vaping (e-cigarettes) delivers nicotine and other chemicals into developing lungs. Because young people's brains and bodies are still growing, the harm from tobacco starts faster and runs deeper than it does for adults. 🚬

Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it slows down the brain and nervous system. In small amounts it can make people feel relaxed, but it also affects judgement, balance and reaction time — which is why drink-driving is illegal. In larger amounts it can cause unconsciousness or alcohol poisoning, which is a medical emergency. For children and teenagers, whose brains are still developing the frontal lobe (the part that controls decision-making and impulse), even moderate alcohol can cause lasting harm to memory and learning. Alcohol is legal for adults in the UK but illegal to buy under age 18, and illegal for under-5s to consume at all. 🍺

Other drugs include illegal substances such as cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy, as well as legal drugs that are misused, like some prescription medicines. Each drug affects the brain differently, but many work by flooding it with dopamine, the chemical that produces feelings of pleasure or reward. This can trick the brain into craving the drug again and again — the basis of addiction. Cannabis can trigger anxiety and, with heavy use, has been linked to serious mental health problems in young people. Ecstasy can dangerously raise body temperature and heart rate. Some drugs can cause harm or even death on a single use. ⚠️

Pressure is the feeling that you ought to do something because of what others think or do. Peer pressure comes from friends, classmates or anyone in your social circle — it can be direct ('Go on, just try it!') or indirect (seeing others do something and feeling left out if you do not join in). Media influence is subtler: films, music videos and social media can make smoking, drinking or taking risks look glamorous, grown-up or normal. Advertisers use emotional triggers — excitement, belonging, attractiveness — to link products with feelings you want. Recognising these tricks is the first step to resisting them. 📱

Being assertive means standing up for yourself calmly and clearly, without being aggressive or passive. Passive means giving in without saying anything; aggressive means shouting or being rude. Assertive is in the middle: confident, respectful and firm. Assertive refusal strategies include: a clear 'No thanks' without over-explaining (you do not owe anyone a reason); the broken-record technique (calmly repeating your refusal if someone keeps pushing); suggesting an alternative ('I'd rather get a Coke'); or using an exit strategy ('I need to find my mate — see you later'). Practising these in your head before you need them means they feel natural in the moment. 🗣️

Knowing when to call for emergency help could save a life. If someone is unconscious and not breathing normally after alcohol or drug use, call 999 immediately and tell the operator exactly what happened — they guide you step by step. If someone is conscious but very drowsy, place them in the recovery position: on their side with their top knee bent forward, head tilted back slightly to keep the airway open. Stay with them, keep them warm and keep checking they are breathing. Never leave an unconscious person on their back because they could choke. Knowing these two steps — call 999 and recovery position — is enough to make you genuinely helpful in a crisis. 🩺

You never have to handle risky situations alone. Trusted adults include parents, carers, teachers, school nurses, youth workers and doctors. Childline (0800 1111) is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day for anyone under 19 — you can call or chat online. FRANK (talktofrank.com) gives honest, non-judgmental information about drugs. The key message: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. The more you know about pressure, risk and your own values, the easier it is to make choices you feel proud of — and to look after others as well as yourself. 🌟