There are numerous reasons why someone chooses to use drugs, and the root cause of a substance use disorder is unique to the individual. However, the foundation of any effective rehabilitation and prevention is addressing the reason why or the root cause; for many, this root cause can be bullying.
Being bullied, whether verbal, physical, social, or cyberbullying, can lead to substance use. This article aims to raise awareness of this fact and highlight how early intervention can help.
What is Bullying?
The four most common types of bullying include verbal, social, physical, and cyberbullying.
Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean or offensive things to another individual.
Social bullying is often referred to as relational bullying and may involve hurting someone’s reputation or relationships.
Physical bullying involves doing physical harm to a person’s body or possessions.
Cyberbullying occurs over digital devices and involves sending, posting, or sharing negative, false, harmful, or mean content about someone else.
How to Recognize Bullying
It is essential to know what bullying looks like and how it can change a person’s behavior. Here are some things to look out for:
- Physical aggression includes pushing, slapping, punching, or hitting.
- Verbal abuse, such as name-calling, racial slurs, rude comments, or cursing.
- Social exclusion, whether in person or digitally on social media.
- Someone being bullied will drastically change their behavior and may become more socially distant.
- Isolation is common among those who are bullied; they may begin to distance themselves from friends and family.
- Emotional distress is expected as the person could become overly anxious, sad, or angry without apparent reason.
Health Problems Associated with Bullying
Individuals can suffer from health issues due to bullying, including the following:
Stress
Anxiety or Depression
Loss of Confidence
Lack of Sleep
Inability to Function Normally
Self Harm
How Does Bullying Lead to Substance Use?
The painful experiences associated with bullying lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. The mental health impact becomes challenging to manage, and drugs or alcohol become a means of coping. In addition to this, there is also peer pressure to use drugs or alcohol to numb physical or mental discomfort, such as bullying. It begins a cycle where the drugs or alcohol are associated with temporary relief of the physical or emotional pain associated with bullying.
Studies have shown that alcohol was the most consumed substance, followed by tobacco and cannabis, among people who were bullied. Research consistently shows that adolescents involved in bullying — whether as victims, perpetrators, or both — have significantly higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use compared to peers with no bullying involvement.
Additionally, children or adults who bully others also have an increased risk of substance misuse. Bullies tend to use drugs because of self-isolation, their peer group, and antisocial behavior.
Early Intervention Can Prevent Bullying
Bullying can have lasting impacts on both children and adults, making early intervention crucial. Teaching empathy from a young age helps prevent bullying behavior while recognizing signs of someone being bullied—such as anxiety, physical marks, or emotional distress—can lead to timely support. It’s important for both those experiencing bullying and witnesses to know how to respond effectively.
Here are some essential tips for those being bullied and those who witness bullying.
When Being Bullied
- Try to stay calm.
- Attempt to document the incident and record what’s happening.
- Always talk to someone about what happened.
- Try to reason and set boundaries if it feels safe to do so.
- Avoid retaliation unless necessary. However, protect yourself if you feel in danger.
- Seek support and counseling.
- Report the bullying to anyone who will listen.
When Witnessing Bullying
- Never ignore the situation; your presence can make a difference.
- Intervene if you see it safe to do so.
- Support the person being bullied & help them reach out to someone who could assist them.
- Report the bullying and encourage the victim to report the bullying.
- Educate others and increase awareness.
Resources for Help
Some of the following resources help with bullying prevention:
Prevention and early intervention are the key to success. Parents, school staff, and caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying and intervening. Helping individuals understand bullying is one of the most vital things that can be done to stop it.
