CO - C R E AT I O N

I
MENTOR – PROF. ARUN MAL
GE , K E SH V I SO L ANK I, RU TUJA
O F T H E GR O U P - P O O RV A SHED
MEMBERS , AY US H UP A D H YAY,
D T A R K A R, K A ASH V I G U P TA
PATHARE, H R U D H AY K U
D , HRISH IK E S H N IM K A R
A N YA D A V, SA M AR T H GH E NAN
ARY
GROUP NUMBER- 251
PROBLEM STATEMENT
THE PREVALENCE OF PEER PRESSURE AMONG
ADOLESCENTS IS CONTRIBUTING TO A RISING TREND
OF ADDICTION TO SUBSTANCES.
OBJECTIVE
TO REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF PEER PRESSURE
LEADING TO ADDICTION AMONG INDIVIDUALS,
PARTICULARLY ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG
ADULTS.
INTRODUCTION
• PEER PRESSURE IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FORCES IN THE COMPLEX WEB OF HUMAN SOCIAL
DYNAMICS, HAVING THE POWER TO INFLUENCE DECISIONS, ACTIONS, AND EVEN IDENTITIES.

• PEER PRESSURE IS LIKE A STRONG CURRENT IN THE RIVER OF STUDENT LIFE, SOMETIMES PUSHING US IN
DIRECTIONS WE MIGHT NOT WANT TO GO.

• IT'S THE INFLUENCE FROM FRIENDS OR CLASSMATES THAT CAN MAKE US FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO ACT A
CERTAIN WAY OR DO CERTAIN THINGS TO FIT IN.

• WHETHER IT'S TRYING A NEW TREND, EXPERIMENTING WITH SUBSTANCES, OR SKIPPING CLASS, PEER
PRESSURE CAN BE HARD TO RESIST.

• STUDENTS OFTEN FEEL THE NEED TO CONFORM TO THE EXPECTATIONS OF THEIR PEERS, EVEN IF IT MEANS
GOING AGAINST THEIR OWN VALUES OR BETTER JUDGMENT.
ADDICTION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
• LETS DISCUSS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CASES OF ADDICTIONS- THE
COMMON ADDICTIONS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR LIVES AND
SURROUNDINGS ARE:

• ALCOHOLISM
• NICOTINE ADDICTION
• TOBACCO ADDICTION
• ILLEGAL AND PRERSCRIBED DRUG ADDICTION IN SEVERE CASES.
• AS WE KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS FOR THE ABOVE,
BUT TODAY WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A SPECIFIC CASE ‘STUDENTS’
CONSEQUENCES OF ADDICTION - SPECIFICALLY TALKING IN THE CASE OF STUDENTS, THERE ARE NUMEROUS
OF WHICH WE WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING MAJOR ONES:
• ACADEMIC- FALLING GRADES:
ADDICTION CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON STUDIES, LEADING TO MISSED CLASSES, INCOMPLETE
ASSIGNMENTS, AND ULTIMATELY, LOWER GRADES .
• REDUCED COGNITIVE FUNCTION-
DEPENDING ON THE ADDICTION, SUBSTANCES CAN IMPAIR MEMORY, CONCENTRATION AND CRITICAL
THINKING SKILLS, HINDERING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE (THAT MEANS YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON
YOUR OWN STUFF).
• HEALTH-
PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES: MANY ADDICTIONS TAKE A TOLL ON PHYSICAL HEALTH, LEADING TO FATIGUE,
WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEM AND INCREASED RISK OF ILLNESSES.
• MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS-
ADDICTION OFTEN COINCIDES WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES,
FURTHER IMPACTING WELL-BEING.

• SOCIAL LIFE-
STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS: ADDICTION CAN LEAD TO ARGUMENTS, BROKEN TRUST, AND ISOLATION FROM
FRIENDS AND FAMILY

• RISKY BEHAVIOR-
POOR JUDGMENT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTANCES CAN PUT STUDENTS AT RISK OF ACCIDENTS,
INJURIES, OR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE LAW

• OVERALL CONSEQUENCES-
LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES: ADDICTION CAN DERAIL EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND LIMIT FUTURE CAREER
OPTIONS (LOW INCOME JOB!).
SUB-QUESTIONS
• Q1 UNDERSTANDING PEER PRESSURE - WHAT IS PEER PRESSURE AND HOW DOES IT MANIFEST IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS?
HOW DOES PEER PRESSURE DIFFER IN VARIOUS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXTS?

• ANSWER –

• UNDERSTANDING PEER PRESSURE PEER PRESSURE IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH MEMBERS OF THE SAME SOCIAL GROUP
INFLUENCE OTHER MEMBERS TO DO THINGS THAT THEY MAY BE RESISTANT TO, OR MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE CHOOSE TO DO.

• IT CAN BE EITHER A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE INFLUENCE THAT ONE PEER, OR GROUP OF PEERS, HAS ON ANOTHER PERSON.

• PEER PRESSURE CAN MANIFEST IN VARIOUS FORMS SUCH AS SPOKEN VS. UNSPOKEN, DIRECT VS. INDIRECT, AND POSITIVE
VS. NEGATIVE. SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PEER PRESSURE INCREASES DURING EARLY ADOLESCENCE, PEAKS AROUND THE AGE OF
14, THEN DECREASES AS ADULTHOOD APPROACHES.

• YOUNGER ADULTS ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PEER INFLUENCE, WHEREAS MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER INDIVIDUALS EXHIBIT
GREATER SELF-CONTROL.
• Q2. PEER PRESSURE AND ADDICTION - HOW DOES PEER PRESSURE CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONSET OF ADDICTIVE
BEHAVIORS? WHAT TYPES OF ADDICTIONS ARE MOST COMMONLY LINKED TO PEER PRESSURE?

• ANSWER-
• PEER PRESSURE AND ADDICTION PEER PRESSURE TO USE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO ADDICTION. THIS PRESSURE COULD LEAD TO A
RELAPSE AFTER AN ADDICT HAS CHOSEN TO PURSUE RECOVERY.

• THE EARLY USE OF DRUGS INCREASES THE LIFETIME RISK OF DEVELOPING A SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER.COMMON ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES LINKED TO PEER PRESSURE INCLUDE ALCOHOL, TOBACCO,
STIMULANTS, HALLUCINOGENS, AND OPIOIDS.

• OTHER TYPES OF ADDICTION INCLUDE FOOD ADDICTION, SHOPPING ADDICTION, GAMBLING ADDICTION,
INTERNET ADDICTION, VIDEO GAME ADDICTION, AND EXERCISE ADDICTION6.
• Q3. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS - WHAT ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT MAKE INDIVIDUALS
SUSCEPTIBLE TO PEER PRESSURE? HOW DOES ADDICTION AFFECT THE MENTAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS?

• ANSWER-
• PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS MAKE INDIVIDUALS MORE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO PEER PRESSURE. THESE INCLUDE HAVING A HIGHER SENSITIVITY TO REJECTION, RATING PEERS AS
IMPORTANT, HAVING LOWER LEVELS OF RESISTANCE TO PEER INFLUENCE, AND BEING POPULAR.

• OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE STRUGGLING TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PERSONAL IDENTITY, FEAR OF BEING
BULLIED, LOW SELF-ESTEEM, STRONG FEAR OF REJECTION, AND A DESIRE FOR SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE.

• ADDICTION CAN HAVE A PROFOUND IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH, LEADING TO INCREASED ANXIETY,
DEPRESSION, AND MOOD SWINGS. IT FOSTERS FEELINGS OF GUILT, SHAME, AND LONELINESS WHILE
DIMINISHING SELF-ESTEEM AND CAUSING ISOLATION FROM LOVED ONES
QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES
• TO DEVELOP A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING ON HOW THE PREVALENCE OF PEER PRESSURE AMONG
ADOLESCENTS IS CONTRIBUTING TO A RISING TREND OF ADDICTION TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

• THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS MADE AND SENT TO PARTICIPANTS, WHICH WAS ADMINISTERED ONLINE. WE
HAVE RECEIVED 47 RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE RESPONSES HAVE
BEEN MADE.
• AS WE CAN SEE IN THE PIE
CHART, 4.3%HIGHLY AGREE TO
BEING PEER PRESSURIZED
INTO TRYING INTOXICATIONS,
17% SOMEWHAT AGREE AND
2.1 % HAVE SAID THAT I PEER
PRESSURE OTHER PEOPLE, I AM
HIM.
• AS OBSERVED, 8.5% HAVE
RESPONSED TO HIGHLY AGREE
THAT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SAY
NO WHEN I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE
IN A GROUP, 27.7% SOMEWHAT
AGREE AND 25.5% ARE NEUTRAL
• 6.4% RESPONDENTS AGREE
THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO
SMOKE AND DRINK TO BE
POPULAR AND FIT IN WITH
OTHER PEOPLE, 4.3%
SOMEWHAT AGREE, 10.6% ARE
NEUTRAL AND 2.1% SAYS I AM
HIM.
• 4.3% HIGHLY AGREE, 6.4%
SOMEWHAT AGREE, 17% ARE
NEUTRAL, 17% SOMEWHAT
DISAGREE AND 55.3%
HIGHLY DISAGREE.
• 4.3% RESPONDENTS
HIGHLY AGREE TO HAVE
BEEN INFLUENCED BY
SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
INTOXICATIONS, 12.8%
SOMEWHAT AGREE, 12.8%
ARE NEUTRAL, 17%
SOMEWHAT DISAGREE AND
53.2% HIGHLY DISAGREE.
• 8.5% OF THE RESPONDENTS
ALL THE TIME FEEL THE NEED
TO GO OUT AND TRY ANY TYPE
OF SUBSTANCES DUE TO
STRESS AND PROBLEMS IN
THEIR LIFE, 10.6% MOST OF
THE TIMES, 12.6%
SOMETIMES, 10.6% RARELY
AND 57.4% NEVER.
• WE CAN OBSERVE
THAT SOME PEOPLE
DO NOT HAVE ANY
ADDICTIONS AND
FEW RESPONDENTS
ARE TAKING
MEASURES TO
OVERCOME THEIR
ADDICTION.
TO CONCLUDE, THE RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOWED THAT SOME OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE
BEEN PRESSURIZED INTO TRYING INTOXICATIONS AND FEEL THE NEED TO SMOKE AND DRINK TO BE
POPULAR AND FIT IN WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
MOST OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT WHEN I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN A GROUP, I DO NOT KNOW HOW
TO SAY NO.
A LOT OF RESPONDENTS HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY DIFFERENT TYPES OF
INTOXICATIONS.
FEW PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO GO OUT AND TRY SUBSTANCE ABUSE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS AND STRESS IN
THEIR LIFE. SOME RESPONDENTS ARE TAKING MEASURES TO OVERCOME THEIR ADDICTION.
HOW CAN WE AVOID GETTING CAUGHT IN ADDICTIONS
CAUSED DUE TO PEER PRESSURE

• 1) KNOW YOUR CHILDREN, FRIENDS OR FAMILY- TALK TO

THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS ABOUT PROBLEMS AND
COMMUNICATE OPENLY

• 2)CONSEQUENCES- TRY TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT

THE CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICULAR BAD HABITS THAT
LEAD TO ADDICTIONS
• 3)FOCUS ON HEALTHY WAYS OF HAVING FUN-TRY TO FIND HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES TO RELAX YOUR
MIND AND DISTRESS YOURSELF

• 4) THERAPY -GO TO THERAPY AND SPEAK YOUR MIND AND TRY TO CHANNEL YOUR EMOTIONS INTO
SOMETHING POSITIVE

• 5) WALK AWAY- KNOW THAT IT'S OKAY TO WALK AWAY FROM SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE OR YOU
DON'T THINK IS RIGHT. RIGHT DECISIONS ALWAYS LEAD TO A BETTER LIFE.
CONCLUSION
• IT'S CLEAR THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE GET INFLUENCED BY THEIR FRIENDS TO USE DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, WHICH LEADS TO
ADDICTION. TO FIX THIS, WE NEED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL STRONG AND CONFIDENT IN THEMSELVES. THIS MEANS
TEACHING THEM HOW TO STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN AND MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES, EVEN IF THEIR FRIENDS ARE
DOING SOMETHING ELSE.

• WE ALSO NEED TO TEACH THEM HEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH STRESS AND PROBLEMS SO THEY DON'T TURN TO DRUGS OR
ALCOHOL FOR COMFORT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ADULTS LIKE PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND MENTORS TO TALK OPENLY WITH
YOUNG PEOPLE AND OFFER SUPPORT AND ADVICE WITHOUT JUDGING THEM.

• CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED AND RESPECTED IS KEY. THIS MEANS PROMOTING
ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE FRIENDSHIP AND HEALTHY LIVING AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND VALUED.

• OVERALL, FIXING THE PROBLEM OF ADDICTION REQUIRES EVERYONE TO WORK TOGETHER—PARENTS, TEACHERS, DOCTORS,
AND COMMUNITY LEADERS—TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE AND HELP THEM MAKE GOOD CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES
T HA N K Y O U