Tips for Handling Peer Pressure in Addiction Recovery

If you’re recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction, peer pressure can sometimes impact your ability to stay sober. Regardless of your circumstances, it can be challenging to get together with friends or acquaintances who may not understand your situation. As you encounter peer pressure, it’s important to develop strategies to help you maintain your recovery.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. The 2022 campaign is focusing on how to reduce the social stigma associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and educate people on how the disease can be addressed, offering help and advice for families as well as those struggling with addiction.

At Laguna Treatment Hospital, our supportive staff members all want you to feel prepared to face any challenge along your road to recovery. Read on to discover some tips and guidance for handling peer pressure during your addiction recovery.

Know Your Triggers

If possible, try to minimize your involvement in situations that could involve peer pressure. If you know that certain groups or individuals are likely to use drugs or alcohol, try to limit contact with them as you progress with your recovery. You can also try to limit your exposure to places or events that offer these substances, like bars or house parties.

Think about which places or people might put your recovery in jeopardy and try to avoid them as much as you can. Consider planning some fun, sober-safe activities to replace riskier options. Instead of going out to a party, for example, you might invite a friend over to watch your favorite shows, start a book club, or host a sober game night.

Prepare Ahead of Time

Despite efforts to avoid difficult or compromising situations, you may still encounter them in the future. It can feel challenging or complicated to say “no” when peers offer you a drink.

Remember, it’s up to you if you want to discuss your recovery. Depending on your preferences, you might use a common reason that many people stay sober during an event. For example, you might say you expect to drive later, want to stay sober for work the next day, or just prefer not to drink alcohol.

Bring a Friend

Having an ally on your side can be a great strength when you encounter peer pressure. If you’re entering a situation that involves drugs or alcohol, consider bringing a trusted friend to help you stay strong in the face of pressure. They can be a great resource if you ever feel uncomfortable in a social situation. Consider including them in your addiction recovery plan so you both understand how to handle instances of peer pressure beforehand.

Learn From Those Around You

Chances are, you’ve met some inspiring people along your recovery journey who’ve encountered the same issues. Don’t be afraid to ask them for advice on how they handle peer pressure. They likely have practical tips and guidelines, especially if they’ve been sober for a while.

Even if early on in their sobriety journey, you can connect and share previous experiences regarding peer pressure. If you’re comfortable reaching out, you can also use your sober friends as resources to help ease the potential loneliness of dealing with peer pressure. You can help each other navigate this challenging aspect of sobriety and serve as trusted friends for risky situations in the future.

Understanding Relapse

Recovery is a life-long process and relapse is often a part of the journey.

If you experience relapse, don’t give up hope and act as soon as possible to get back on the path to recovery. Accept responsibility for what has happened, ask for help from a sponsor or other supportive and understanding friend or family member, and consider whether additional help from a professional treatment program is needed. 

At Laguna Treatment Hospital, we know that recovery is challenging, but we also know that it’s worth it. We also offer recovery resources and support so you can maintain your progress when you leave our center. If you are looking for drug or alcohol rehab near Los Angeles you can find the help you need at our treatment center in Laguna, California.