Bullying has an impact on both the victim and the perpetrator. While many people focus on bullying and addiction in the victim, the perpetrator could also have problems with substance use. Identifying a bullying problem and recognizing signs of addiction are requirements for making a change. By seeking help for the person suffering from a substance use disorder linked to bullying, you may also help reduce bullying or its impacts. For more information about adolescent addiction treatment, contact Fort Behavioral Health at 844.332.1807.
Bullying and Addiction in Victims
Bullying can happen to anyone. However, victims of bullying tend to have something different about them or weakness that makes them vulnerable. For example, children or teens who have the following traits have a higher chance of someone bullying them:
- Lack of a large friend circle or don’t get along with their peers
- Are new in a school
- Come from a different economic background from their peers
- Experience depression or anxiety
- Appear weak
The biggest concern with those who experience bullying is the underlying condition of depression or anxiety. In some people, depression came before the bullying incident. For others, bullying causes depression. Many girls who have experienced bullying suffer from higher levels of depression and substance use. In addition, those who experienced bullying and, in turn, bullied others also had a greater chance for substance abuse.
Bullying and Substance Use Disorder in Perpetrators
Those who bully others may have a higher chance of drug and alcohol abuse than others. In fact, the factors that lead to bullyings, such as a lack of family support and aggressive tendencies, also have connections to substance use.
For those who bully others, seriously consider the presence of substance use disorder in the perpetrators. Watch out for signs of addiction in these people and try to help them to seek recovery and ways to overcome bullying others.
Witnesses to Bullying and Substance Use
Witnessing violence, such as bullying, can also lead to substance use and addiction. Bullying witnesses have higher chances of poor school attendance, mental health problems, and substance use.
Signs of Bullying and Addiction
Frequently teens or kids who bully or experience bullying don’t ask for help because they don’t want to seem weak. They may also not want to lose face with their peers. These same reasons may also be those that teens don’t request help for addiction. However, if you see any signs of bullying or addiction in your child, you need to get them help.
Signs of bullying victimization include the following:
- Losing personal items
- Experiencing injuries that they refuse to explain
- Not wanting to go to school
- Withdrawing from social activities or family
- Harming themselves or talking about suicide
If your child bullies others, they may get into fights, act more aggressively than in the past, don’t take responsibility for what they do, and do impulsive acts such as drinking or using drugs.
Addiction can happen to those who bully others, victims, and witnesses to bullying. Signs of substance use disorder in teens may include:
- Failing school performance
- Withdrawing from friends or family
- Significant mood or behavior changes
- Losing interest in once favored activities or subjects
Find Help for Bullying and Addiction in TX from Fort Behavioral Health
If you suspect that someone you know engages in bullying or suffers from an addiction, you can get them help. In cases involving your child, be proactive, and contact our facility at Fort Behavioral Health at 844.332.1807. You can learn about our programs, including our adolescent addiction treatment program and co-occurring disorders services. By helping the causes and impacts of bullying and substance use, we can save lives and help mitigate the problems of addiction.
Don’t ignore it when bullying and addiction happen to your teen. Get your child mental health care and addiction treatment in a supportive environment with evidence-based treatment for substance use. Let us walk your teen toward recovery.
