Saying "no" to friends who are pressuring you can be hard to do. How you respond to them depends on the situation and what feels right-or wrong-to you. Deciding what to say can be even more difficult if you feel you are on the spot or everyone is watching. Practicing what to say can help you think about how you might say "no" in different situations.
Look at the "How to Say 'No'" poster.
Now, take a look at the lists on the next page. The first provides some ways to say "no," or refusal strategies. The second list gives examples of what you might say if you feel pressured to use tobaccoo. For each way to say "no," there is an example of what you might say.
| WAYS TO SAY NO |
IF PRESSURED TO USE TOBACCO YOU MIGHT SAY |
|---|---|
| 1) Say "no" and suggest something else. | Not interested. Let's go shoot hoops instead. |
| 2) Say "no" and talk about the consequences. | No thanks. Smoking can yellow your teeth. |
| 3) Say "no" and give them a reason or explain why you said no. | No thanks. I don't want to smell like smoke. I also want to be able to run in tomorrow's soccer game. |
| 4) Say "no" and reverse the pressure. | No thanks. Why don't you toss the cigarettes? Most teens dislike being around smokers. |
| 5) Say "no" and change the subject. | No thanks. Did you see the game last night? |
| 6) Say "no" and add some humor. | No thanks. I'd like to keep my pearly whites. |
| 7) Say "no" and walk away. | No thanks. (Exit) |
Now, for each of the ways to say "no" below, type in what you might say.
| WAYS TO SAY NO |
IF PRESSURED TO USE TOBACCO YOU MIGHT SAY |
|---|---|
| 1) Say "no" and suggest something else. | |
| 2) Say "no" and talk about the consequences. | |
| 3) Say "no" and give them a reason or explain why you said no. | |
| 4) Say "no" and reverse the pressure. | |
| 5) Say "no" and change the subject. | |
| 6) Say "no" and add some humor. | |
| 7) Say "no" and walk away. |
How else could you say no?