The ABCs of Bullying
Addressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression

Module 3: Factors Contributing to Bullying and Violence - Page 9 of 17

Substance Abuse by Family Members

Alcohol and substance abuse-whether by the student or by family members-increases the likelihood that the student will turn to violence. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA), families affected by alcoholism report higher levels of conflict than do families with no alcoholism.ref Alcohol abuse also is linked to domestic violence. Most welfare professionals cite substance abuse as a cause of or contributor to at least half of child maltreatment cases.ref

Children of addicted parents may indicate problems that make them susceptible to bullying. In general, children of parents who abuse alcohol have higher rates of school absenteeism and are more likely to leave school, or be referred to the school psychologists than are children of non-alcohol-abusing parents.ref

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