Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior. It usually involves a power imbalance, either real or imagined, and is repeated over a period of time. Bullying that takes place in childhood can have a negative impact on the rest of someone’s life. It can be physical, where the bully assaults his victim by hitting, kicking, or tripping. Breaking someone else’s possessions on purpose can also be bullying. It may also be completely verbal, involving name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, teasing, or threats. Social bullying hurts the victim’s relationships or reputation by leaving them out of events, spreading rumors about them, or publicly embarrassing them.
According to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), 20 percent of students in grades 9 to 12 reported being bullied on school property in the preceding 12 months. Kids who are bullied often suffer mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, loneliness, poor sleeping and eating habits, and a loss of interest in life. They may turn to substance abuse in an effort to cope or temporarily forget these feelings. Even children who simply witness bullying and aren’t involved in it are at risk for mental health and substance abuse problems. The risk of suicide is often increased because of depression or drug use.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the following percentages of students reported bullying in or on the way to school in 2013: those who were bullied at school: 21.5 percent, those who were made fun of or insulted: 13.6 percent, those who were the subject of rumors: 13.2 percent, those who were pushed, shoved, spit on or tripped: 6.0 percent, those who were excluded from activities: 4.5 percent, those who were threatened with harm: 3.9 percent, those who were forced to do things they didn’t want to do: 2.2 percent, and those who had property destroyed: 1.6 percent.
There are no definitive statistics on how bullying and substance abuse are linked, but experts say there is a definite relationship between the two. The bullies themselves are more likely to use drugs as part of their rule-breaking nature, or because the types of people they associate with are themselves drug users. They might also abuse drugs or alcohol in order to cope with mental health disorders that lead them to be aggressive toward others. The children who are bullied, similarly, may self-medicate in order to cope with the effects of being mistreated.
A 2012 study found that only 1.6 percent of middle school students who did not exhibit bullying behavior used marijuana, compared with 11.4 percent of those students who were bullies. Among high school students, 13.3 percent of the non-bullies used marijuana, compared with 31.7 percent of bullies. Results were similar for the use of alcohol and cigarettes.
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