Refusing Offers to Use Substances

Social pressures are the second most common relapse precipitant after negative emotional states. Clients who are not prepared to resist pressures to use are more vulnerable to relapse. Direct social pressures include situations in which others offer the client substances. Pressure may vary from mild to extreme, in which another person tries hard to influence the client to use. The objectives of this chapter are to help the client identify direct and indirect social pressures (people, places, events, social and work situations) to use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs; to identify feelings experienced during social pressure situations (e.g., anger, anxiety, excitement); to identify thoughts experienced during social pressure situations (e.g., wanting to fit in, wanting to be normal, thinking substance use can be limited or controlled); and to identify strategies to avoid high-risk people, places, situations, and events and to cope with social pressures that cannot be avoided.