invite teenagers to be "cool'' and smoke, even though there's nothing cool about it.

Alcohol and drugs pervade our society as forms of fun. In advertising, "sex sells'', and teens everywhere are buying into it, and propagating the problems of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Here are some ways to combat peer pressure: Listen to your constant guide -- follow your personal spiritual guidance; Be assertive, stand up for your beliefs. You know what you believe and you do not need other people telling you what to think or do. Stand up for what you believe and be assertive, positive and confident; Choose friends carefully. Belonging to a group is very important in life, especially during your teen years. As a teen, you may not realise that the friends you choose now, will have an impact on the rest of your life. True friends will not drag you down, but lift you up. Chose friends who have goals, people with positive attitudes and good self-esteem. These are the type of people who will genuinely love and support you and would never ask you to do anything harmful. People who do things you know are wrong, are not the kind of people you want to have as friends. These types of people will inevitably drag you down, because as the saying goes, "misery loves company''; Choose the Right. You know the difference between right wrong, and if there is any doubt -- do not do it. Do not fall into that trap and make decisions that you already know are wrong. These types of choices will inevitably lead to dire consequences for which you will be personally responsible; Make your own decisions. You are an individual who can make decisions on your own. Do not allow someone else to make decisions for you. Have you ever heard the saying "silence is consent''? When someone offers you a choice and you do not say yes or no, the other person has made a decision for you. Always voice your decision so there is never any question.

The following are ways to say "NO'' in advance: "You see it your way, I see it my way.'' "If you are really a friend, back off.'' "You must think I'm pretty dumb to fall for that one.'' "I'm not stupid enough to do something like that.'' "No means no and I mean no.'' "I made up my mind not to do this -- you are on your own.''