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with them or engage in other risky behaviors like drinking alcohol or using drugs. Why would anyone care whether or not you smoke? Well, often children at those ages start to break down into social groups, and they want to “gatekeep” people like you. In essence, they may not want to hang out with you anymore if you do not smoke, because they think you aren’t “cool” or “mature” enough to spend time with them. That situation can be very hard to understand, because it can sometimes happen overnight. For example, you may find that a friend who used to love playing video games with you suddenly only wants to smoke cigarettes or try to get drunk instead. For a young pre-teen or teen who has an active social life, it can be very hard to lose friends. So, even if they don’t want to smoke, they may start anyway to please their friends and maintain those relationships. And because nicotine is so addictive, it can be very easy to smoke long after that initial puff. All of these same factors are also true of vaping: the same basic concepts underlie almost all peer pressure, even in older adults who you think would probably know

PEER PRESSURE IS AN INHERENT PART OF THE HUMAN MIND

The desire to fit in with others is not just a concern in middle school, but persists throughout a person’s life. Humans are social creatures who naturally create groups that help to define them. Think of the jocks in your class who play sports, or your gaming friends who constantly play Fortnite or other games. Even adult social groups, such as political parties, churches, and clubs like the Rotary or the Elks, are based on the idea of fitting in and conforming to what others expect.

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The Nature of Peer Pressure