Choose to Refuse: Saying No and Keeping Your Friends

Most kids think they are prepared to “just say no” when confronted with bad choices about drugs, sex, or ethical behavior. But this resolve often melts away when they discover that it’s not their enemies they have to say no to; it’s their friends! This program presents students with practical skills for handling peer pressure without losing friends. Five refusal techniques are modeled and demonstrated: suggest a better idea, just leave, give an excuse, just ignore, and challenge the challenger. The dramatic situations include being challenged to fight, being asked to allow homework to be copied, being asked to go shoplifting, and being asked to take drugs.