Sometimes saying YES to recovery means saying NO to the people around us. Refusal skills are learned techniques used to assertively turn down drugs + alcohol in high-risk scenarios. The National Institute of Health outlines an approach called “recognize/avoid/cope” that people in recovery can apply in challenging social situations. RECOGNIZE Social pressure takes two different forms: -Indirect social pressure comes when people are using substances around you, and; -Direct social pressure is when someone actively offers us something to drink, use, or consume. AVOID Often the best strategy is to just avoid challenging social situations altogether. COPE If we are offered drugs or alcohol, we can always say NO. Some tips I have include: -Keeping responses clear + concise -Prepare your statement in advance -Maintain strong body language -Repeat your statement as many times as necessary What do your refusal skills look like? Let me know below!