Avoid the Offer
Don't enter a situation where you may be pressured.

Escape the Offer

Walk away
*Leave before an offer is made.

Give an Excuse
*"I'm supposed to meet my friend"
*"See you later"
*"Gotta run"
*"I forgot my books"

Cold Shoulder
*Ignore the offer, or change the subject
*Talk to someone else in the group
*Walk away

Refuse the Offer

Simple rejection
*"No"
*"No thanks"

Self-Statements
*"I don't smoke, drink, chew, do drugs"
*"I have too much going on for me to start this habit."
*"I'm not the type of person who smokes, drinks, chews, does drugs"

Consequences
*"Smoking will give me bad breath"
*"Chew will make my teeth yellow"
*"Alcohol and drugs impair my thought and vision"

Broken Record
*"No thanks... No thanks... No thanks."
*"I don't want any... I don't want any."

Strength in Numbers
*Look for other nonusers. If confronted with an offer, stick together and use "WE" statements.
*"We don't smoke"
*"We don't drink"
*"We don't chew"
*"We don't do drugs"

Reversing the Pressure
*"No thanks. I thought you were my friend and my friends wouldn't want me to get into trouble."
*"I don't want to be around you when you're doing that."
*"You really should try to quit that bad habit."

Activism
*"I don't smoke, drink, chew, or do drugs and you shouldn't either."
*"I don't want to be around you when you're doing these things."
*"You should really try to stay away from things like this."

Other Statements
*"I know you are trying to be my friend, but I don't smoke, drink, chew, do drugs."

Exchange Statements
*"No thanks, let's go get something to eat instead."
*"I don't do that, but if you need someone to talk to I'm always here."

Combination
*"I know you are trying to be my friend, but I don't do that. How about going to get something to eat instead?"

 

BE ASSERTIVE WHEN TRYING THESE WAYS TO SAY "NO"

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