Alcohol and bullying, two problems that have a lot to do

The new generations face numerous problems that threaten their development. Among them, there are two that stand out and fill many headlines because of the danger they have for young people. On the one hand, the bullying, which makes the students live a hell every day while being victims of ridicule and sometimes physical aggression. On the other side of the table appears the consumption of alcohol, a substance excessively harmful to these bodies still in development.

A priori, it may seem that both problems have no relationship between them. However, a new study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics points out the link between the two dangers for young people. A warning that encourages the implementation of preventive measures against both situations.


Escape route

This study focused on 4,297 young people from different areas to see if there could be a relationship between the students who were victims of bullying and the consumption of alcohol. This investigation lasted from the 2004 to 2011 and in it it was found that indeed students who were harassed by their peers or discriminated against on a regular basis found in the drink of these substances a way to escape this situation.

Those students who had been victims of bullying in the first levels of education were more likely to develop alcohol consumption when they reached youth. A danger that increased when they reached adolescence because in these substances they found a false sense of relief that encouraged them to cope vexations and insults to those who faced in their school day.


But not only alcohol presented itself as Escape route for young. Other products as dangerous as tobacco or marijuana were also used to "forget" the harassment they suffered in their school. The experts also point out that in the case of children between 13 and 16 years old, the consumption of these items also responds to social pressure. The fear of running out of friends and being victims of bullying leads them to participate in these harmful activities.

Warning sign

Those responsible for this study explain that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco in adolescents, can be a warning sign for parents and other educators. Seeing that a young man who had never drank before, suddenly shows symptoms of drunkenness, along with a reserved nature can be a warning that he is suffering from a situation of harassment in his school. The authorities are also encouraged to take this point into account when making anti-bullying policies.


The Experts They point out that it is important to intervene in these situations to prevent the feeling of victimization in young people and prevent them from resorting to alcohol as an escape route. These researchers highlight the importance of raising awareness that these cases should be reported instead of finding "exits" such as the consumption of substances harmful to the body. Adolescents who opt for drinking instead of making their case known is another example of the preference for isolation by victims.

It also suggests the need for fight against bullying from the first levels of education. This study indicated that young people who are vexed in their childhood, develop a trauma that makes them fall into alcohol in their adolescence. Encouraging understanding and good relations among students will reduce the risk of consumption of these substances considerably.

These are some measures to prevent harassment in the classrooms:

- Caring for their children, talking with them and creating a dialogue channel. Avoid monologues. You learn and know your children better, listening to them.

- Address possible symptoms such as nervousness, lack of appetite, insomnia, poor school performance or school phobia.

- Control and supervise the behaviors of the children, observing what they do, where they go, with whom they play, what their interests and projects are.

- Determine the limits and rules. Require compliance with elementals.

- Educate to control emotions, to behave with others and to coexist with others.

- Observe behaviors, moods and changes in children's habits.

Damián Montero

Video: How Do I Make Kids Stop Bullying Me?


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