Featured Resource
Refusal Skills
The ways a person can say "no" to something they don’t want to do—especially when it’s unsafe, unhealthy, or goes against their values.
Peer Pressure
When someone your age tries to influence you to do something—even if you don’t want to. This can be direct (asking you to do it) or indirect (making you feel left out if you don’t).
Assertive Communication
Standing up for yourself in a firm, respectful, and confident way without being rude or aggressive.
Body Language
The way you move, stand, or use your face to show how you feel. Confident body language helps you back up your words when saying “no.”
Boundaries
Personal limits that protect your well-being. Knowing and expressing your boundaries helps others understand what you are or aren't okay with.
Decision-Making
The process of thinking through choices and picking the best option for your safety and values.
Exit Strategy
A plan for how to leave an uncomfortable or dangerous situation safely, like texting a code word to a parent or stepping away to call for help.
LINKS
What Are Refusal Skills?
Refusal skills help us say “No”
ACTIVITIES
6 Refusal Skills for Teens: How to Say NO Without Saying No
Start with these six ways to say NO
READING & RESEARCH
The Art of Refusal
Far from being an end, an emphatic “no” is often a vital first step toward change.
REFUSAL SKILLS Classroom Activities
This resource was developed to be used by educators for grades 4 to 8 to teach refusal skills to use when students face peer pressure.
Psychosocial Interventions for School Refusal Behavior in Children and Adolescents
This article reviews empirical evidence for the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for school refusal behavior.
Refusal Skills: poehealth.org
So, what do you do when someone pressures you to try alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs?
ORGANIZATIONS
Top Refusal Skills for Teens: How to Say No Under Pressure
Teens can use refusal skills to get out of uncomfortable or high-pressure situations. Learn the top ten refusal skills for teens, when to use them, and how to practice them.