How to Practice Refusal Skills
Knowing how to say no to alcohol and other drugs is an important skill that can help teens navigate peer pressure and make healthy decisions. Practicing refusal skills can help young people feel more confident and prepared when faced with situations involving substance use.
The Addiction Policy Forum developed the How to Practice Refusal Skills infographic to provide parents, caregivers, and educators with practical strategies to help teens respond to offers of alcohol and other drugs. The resource highlights five categories of refusal skills, including simple responses, direct statements, excuses, alternatives, and reversing the pressure.
By practicing these responses through conversations and role-playing, teens can identify strategies that feel comfortable and natural to them.
The Addiction Policy Forum's Opioid Prevention Campaign offers additional free educational resources, including fact sheets, infographics, and video explainers, to help families, educators, and communities strengthen prevention efforts.
