When you’re young, you want to try everything (especially during holidays). It’s your decision what you do…

Sometimes you don’t want to be rude (być niegrzecznym) by saying “no” when somebody offers you something. Sometimes you may feel uncomfortable with your decisions and regret (żałować) you didn’t say “no”. But there are situations when you mustn’t agree (nie wolno ci się zgodzić)!

Such things as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs may appear (pojawić się) at a party as well as after school meetings. You may think that one beer or a cigarette won’t harm you. Your friends do it so you can as well. Think of the consequences though! First of all you may be caught (być złapanym) by a teacher or a parent. Even if it was just this one time you tried, you’ll be considered (będziesz uważany) as a very irresponsible person! You don’t have to tell your friends the whole story of how bad cigs and alcohol are, just say “no, thanks” – end of discussion.

Drugs are definitely worse! It’s no exaggeration (nie ma przesady) to say that they can kill you even if you are not addicted (uzależniony). You may hear: “You won’t get addicted after one drug (buch) or sniff (niuchnięcie)”. Don’t believe that. These are typical arguments (typowe argumenty) of drug dealers or “friends” who want to become ones. The truth is that there are hundreds of drugs which can stop your heart, breathing or make you vomit so badly you’d lose your consciousness (stracisz przytomność)! I’m sure you’ve heard about a rape pill (pigułka gwałtu). Many girls, and it’s not said that no boys, were drugged with this. They didn’t know what was happening to them but when they got back to normal, the doctors said they had been raped (zgwałcony). Do not accept any drink from people you don’t know! Don’t leave your drink alone and don’t let unknown people have an eye on it!

People you meet in your life can be very dangerous. Do not behave stupidly only because you think you may hurt the feelings of a stranger!

Remember!
You have to learn to say “no” when you see that an offer may be dangerous for you in any way.
A friend who doesn’t want to hurt you at all may offer riding a bike along a busy street, leaving your group in the mountains, swimming in a place where there’s no life guard or jumping into unknown water. Please, take care of yourself! You have to be very careful (ostrożny). When there is any situation in which you are not sure, just say “no”.

Their opinions

Marysia
One time I gave a phone number to a guy on a bus. He was insisting and was quite bothering so I gave him my number. He’s been calling me all the time. I picked up only once. I’m scared to tell my parents and I’m afraid of this guy. I really don’t know who he is!

Janek
When I was in the first grade I went to a party. Somebody offered me a cigarette. I didn’t like the smoke but I was young and wanted everybody to like me. I didn’t know that his cigarette was with marihuana. I got completely stoned.

Marta
Once one of my friends asked me to give her my homework. She didn’t have hers and the teacher promised to check her. Of course I didn’t want to give her my work but I did. Guess what! The teacher asked her and a second later me. And I got a 1.

Tomek
When I was twelve I started smoking because my friends did it. I smoked one a day after school. Then two, three… it may seem funny but I think I’m addicted. I HAVE to smoke before school. Teachers caught me many times but I can’t stop smoking.

 

Don’t

  • You mustn’t hitch-hike (łapać stopa) when you are on your own – different types of people drive. They may turn in to a forest and you may not have any possibility (żadnej możliwości) to run away. Even if somebody does something like this for a joke, it would be very traumatic for you.
  • Do not accept an invitation to a stranger’s home – even if you know the person a little bit, it doesn’t mean that he/she can be trusted (można mu/jej zaufać). It’s not an adventure! You have to take care of your life!
  • If you meet somebody nice on the internet, do not make an appointment (spotkanie) in a place where there are no people or a place you don’t know. Be very careful and tell some adult if the person from internet is insisting (nalega), threats you (grozi ci) or uses abusive language (używa obraźliwego języka) if you say “no”.