What Do Bullying and Youth Substance Use Have in Common? More Than You Might Think.
Written By: Frances M. Harding, Director, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
October is Bullying Prevention Month and National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, a busy and important time for prevention efforts. On the surface, bullying and youth substance use may seem like separate problems. However, from research, we know that youth who use substances are at risk for other problem behaviors during their teen years. In fact, new findings suggest that middle and high school students who bully their peers are more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana.
Bullying and substance use among children and teenagers have shared risk and protective factors. Effective prevention efforts minimize these risk factors and maximize protective factors in a child’s life. If a problem has already surfaced, learn to recognize the warning signs of bullying and being bullied, underage alcohol use, and drug use to intervene before the problem becomes worse.
But let’s rewind: how do you know which risk and protective factors to focus on? Read on!
Family
Lack of parental support, warmth, and supervision put young people at risk for problem behaviors. Likewise, overly permissive or harsh parenting styles, inconsistent discipline methods, and a lack of clear boundaries or rules increase the likelihood that a child will act out in harmful ways. Children whose parents use drugs and alcohol are also at risk.
Bonding and cultivating close parent-child relationships are vital for a child’s well-being. Open communication strengthens this relationship and can alert a parent or caregiver to difficult issues a young person might be dealing with. Additionally, clear, consistent discipline—without being overly extreme or physical—helps young people understand that certain behaviors, like bullying and substance use, are unacceptable and that there are consequences for those actions. Finally, modeling empathy and helping young people form positive values helps keep them from bullying others and using drugs or alcohol.
Peers
Peer groups and friendships are essential for social and personal development. However, youth who associate with peers who bully or use alcohol and drugs are more likely to engage in those activities. The same goes for children who have difficulty interacting or establishing relationships with their peers.
Children should be exposed to social situations from an early age, and their social skills should be encouraged by family and educators—social support and positive relationships with others contribute to children’s well-being. In addition, parental supervision and involvement, such as getting to know your child’s friends, can help a young person avoid behavioral problems by making wise decisions about the company he or she keeps.
Academic performance
In addition to the many benefits of strong academic performance, doing well in school and being enthusiastic about learning are protective factors for youth substance use and bullying. Poor grades and disinterest in school are just the opposite—they put a child at risk for those same behaviors.
Individual characteristics
Parents and teachers should be on the lookout for aggressive behavior, especially if it manifests at an early age, because it’s an indicator that a child could become involved in drugs, alcohol, and/or bullying. Teachers and families should also seek opportunities to recognize and reinforce children’s abilities and accomplishments—self-esteem, competencies, and skills are characteristics that “protect” a child from developing deviant behaviors.
Environmental characteristics
Our environments play an important part in shaping who we become. Young people who are surrounded by substance use, crime, poverty, and violence at home or in their neighborhoods are more likely to turn to bullying and drug or alcohol use. Community and policy initiatives are essential to remove and prevent environmental risk factors that affect youth. Explore prevention resources and tools, and take the first step toward tackling these issues in your community.
this is a nice post i like it.
[...] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently posted about the link between early substance use and bullying. (As an aside, this month is not only Anti-Bullying Awareness Month but also National Substance [...]
[...] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently posted about the link between early substance use and bullying. (As an aside, this month is not only Anti-Bullying Awareness Month but also National Substance [...]
Thank you for this concise article. It is valuable for all of us in every sector of society. I will pass it on.
[...] via SAMHSA Blog » Blog Archive » What Do Bullying and Youth Substance Use Have in Common? More Than Yo…. [...]
It is also important to acknowledge that bullying exists in the adult workplace, too. Many children grow up to be grown-up bullies who continue to use the same tactics – with the same result – on their victims. Feeling sick, depressed, left out, isolated, doubting one’s contribution to the workplace, embarrassment, helplessness, wanting to quit, suicidal thoughts, depression – all these and more happen to adults who are bullied. Sadly, many workplaces permit this behavior; the little research on this topic reveals that few victims are ever able to reverse the consequences of the bully’s actions even when they make an attempt to take some action. We need to up the focus on what happens when grown-ups experience this treatment, it is truly just as devastating in the workplace as it is in the schoolyard.
What Do Bullying and Youth Substance Use Have in Common? More Than You Might Think….
October is Bullying Prevention Month and National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, a busy and important time for prevention efforts. On the surface, bullying and youth substance use may seem like separate problems. However, from research, we know that…
This article is vaulable to all that it reaches. Its important to remember that as much as we reach out to our youth through school,and community events–if we do not start getting parents more invovled in our efforts–what we do as prevention specialist stops when the kids leave our trainings, community events, and school. WHY? because we need to be all speaking the same language. Parents need to be trained in prevention as well. Remember none of us came with a parenting manual. Even though there is alot of good material out there we can not expect everyone is interested in reding it. Parent traing is the key.
The home environment is where we all learn our first and lasting behaviors. Parents hold the key to what we try to teach in prevention. Our program is targeting parents through PAC meetings (Parent Advosry Community), Community Cultural meetings, and setting up tables at parent teacher conferences, half-time at sporting events, and School sponsored activites.
Its has to be a collabrative measure including– home (parents), education, and community. I think sometimes one wants to blame the other its hardwork raising kids–lets come together for our youth “THEY MATTER”.
If someone has other ideas it would be nice to hear from you.