Hello,
Thank you for your letter. I can hear how worried you are about the rumours about drugs at your new school.
Its easy to think that youre the only one who is worried about drugs but most people at secondary school dont take drugs, so its unlikely that youre on your own with these concerns. Sometimes it can feel like theres lots of pressure to fit in and do what you think other people are doing but its always best to make up your own mind about things. Often people will have respect for you if youre clear about what you will and wont do. And even if people try to persuade you to change your decision, that doesnt mean that you have to.
From what youve said, it seems that you are aware that its safest to stay away from drugs completely. Taking any kind of drug can change your mood and the way that you feel and it can be dangerous. There are always risks involved. Even though some drugs are sold as legal highs, or described as natural plants, it doesnt mean that it wont cause you any harm. Legal and/or Illegal drugs may be mixed with other things and you can never know how they may affect you. You might react differently to other people, so even if your friends get on ok with something, it doesnt mean youll be the same. Drugs can make doing school or college work really difficult and hard to keep up with. They can mess up the way that you focus in class, act with other people and affect your memory.
It might be helpful to think how you want to respond if someone does offer you drugs at school. It may be good to talk about this with your friends before you start the new term. It sounds like youre aware of what the risks are already and its important not to be persuaded to do things that youre sure you dont want to do. Talking about this with us and with your friends can help you to feel strong and independent enough to say no.The Being assertiveness page in Explore has some good techniques for standing up for yourself.
Its great that youre thinking about this now and that you decided to write to me. Theres always someone at ChildLine for you and your friends to talk to. You can ring the free phone number 0800 1111 (which doesnt show up on a phone bill), you log on for a 1-2-1 chat or you can send an email.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.
