October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying prevention programs begin locally, with communities and the individuals within them creating safe and supportive schools, organizations, neighborhoods and family units.

 While this campaign is not as recognized as much as the months dedicated to overdose awareness and suicide prevention, it is equally as crucial. Bullying is linked to drug addiction and suicide. Bullying prevention campaigns help save people from substance abuse and increase awareness in local communities. 

According to the PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, one in five students report being bullied, but the actual number of bullying incidents can be far more significant. Roughly 41 percent of students who reported being bullied at school indicated that they think the bullying would happen again. 

Anyone can be the victim of bullying. A poll conducted by the American Osteopathic Association found that 31 percent of Americans have been bullied as an adult.

 The most common reasons for being bullied reported most often by students included physical appearance, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion and sexual orientation. The effects of bullying are serious because bullying increases the risk of depression, anxiety, substance use and even suicidal ideation. 

According to the NYS Health Department, suicide is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths among New York State residents. National drug abuse statistics coming from the NCDAS show that 8.3 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds reported using drugs in the last month in New York State, and 18- to 25-year-olds are 8 percent more likely to use drugs than the average American. While there are countless reasons why someone would use drugs or alcohol or struggle with suicidal ideation, bullying is often an underlying factor.

National Bullying Prevention Month strives to prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion. However, anyone can prevent bullying and be part of the solution. 

 Start by knowing the signs of bullying. This makes it easier to intervene quickly. Generally, you could see shifts in behavior, such as a student becoming more withdrawn. The person could lose self-esteem, become ill, or change eating or sleeping habits. Students begin to lose interest in school and their grades are impacted. 

Self-destructive behavior is also typical, such as using drugs or alcohol, or committing self-harm. Parents might see unexplained injuries, or lost or destroyed property as a result of physical bullying. You might also notice the person has become anxious, stressed and even depressed. 

Knowing the warning signs is the first step, and the second is intervening. Kids or adults who are being bullied are not quick to talk about it. It’s a good idea to listen to them, assure them you want to help, and let them know it is not their fault this is happening. 

Understand that it is painful for anyone to speak up about this, but begin discussing what can be done. Encourage them to speak to someone, such as a teacher, co-worker, friend, counselor or someone in a position of authority who could step in and end the bullying. 

Moreover, work to remedy the situation, get people involved and follow up, as bullying does not stop immediately. The bully should also be informed that their behavior is wrong, harmful and, in some instances, illegal; make it known that it will not be tolerated. 

Look at some local anti-bullying resources, such as the Advocates for Children of New York, New York State’s Dignity for All Schools Act, and the NYS Center for School Safety. 

Early intervention is vital and even more critical if the individual being bullied is using drugs or alcohol to cope. In addition to this, anti-bullying programs are excellent resources for schools, communities and the workplace, and should be implemented. These programs save lives and encourage more people to become aware and help others.

Marie Garceau has been working in the field of substance use and addiction recovery for over a decade. She works at DRS and primarily focuses on reaching out to the community and spreading awareness.