Q: I’m a thirteen-year-old girl. I have a friend who hangs around with a person who does drugs, smokes, drinks, and does other bad things. My friend is nice and says she wants to help this person. But I’m worried that my friend will get pressured to start using drugs.
A: You’re a wise friend! Statistics show that many kids who come from good homes end up getting involved in drugs simply because of the influence of a peer. (The Bible warns us to be careful about the company we keep.)
We think you should encourage your friend to encourage her friend to get some help. If the friend is really heavy into drugs, then just trying to convince the person that it’s wrong isn’t enough. This friend needs the help of an expert, someone who knows how to help people in these situations. Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are powerful and addicting, and a person needs more than simple willpower to get unhooked. All this depends on whether or not the person wants to be helped in the first place.
Aside from suggesting professional help, suggest that your friend pray for and with this person. Also, how about the two of you joining together in praying for him or her, asking God to show you how you can help? If your friend is a church member, maybe she could invite her friend to church too.