Bullying Hurts, You Can Help

It’s a good time to remember that bullying can cause real harm to its victims—and it’s bad for bullies, too.

Bullying can take many forms, including:

• Physical (hitting, tripping)
• Verbal (name calling, teasing)
• Social (spreading rumors, leaving someone out of a group or activity)
• Cyberbullying (done online, or though cell phones using photos, instant messages, texts, email, etc.)

Did you know that substance use and bullying are connected? In one study, researchers found that students who bully their peers are more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana than students who avoid bullying. Other research has shown that kids who are bullied in fifth grade are more likely to use drugs in high school.

You can help reduce the harm caused by bullying. Check out this poster for four steps that make a big difference. It was created through a partnership with NIDA, Scholastic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a government agency that tracks the frequency of bullying.

Visit StopBullying.gov for more on how to reduce bullying. Also, your parents and teachers might like to know about the free app, KnowBullying.

Visit Scholastic to view the article, "Stand Up Against Bullying."