Not only practicing but suffering bullying is correlated with alcohol, tobacco and drugs use results from a national adolescent school-based survey

BackgroundBullying and the use of psychoactive substances are prevalent conditions among adolescents that appear to have some connection. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the association between being a victim of bullying and using psychoactive substances. Moreover, most analyses of this correlation have taken place in developed countries, possibly not reflecting the reality in Latin America. ObjectiveThis cross-sectional study investigated the association between the use of psychoactive substances and involvement in bullying situations in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. MethodsWe used data from the 2019 National School Health Survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Saude do Escolar), analyzing 123,261 questionnaires from youths aged 13 to 17. Questions about experiencing or engaging in bullying, lifetime use, and recent use (in the last 30 days) of tobacco, hookah, e-cigarettes, other tobacco products, alcohol, and illicit drugs were considered. Responses on the recent use (in the last 30 days) of the following substances were also analyzed: clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, marijuana, and crack. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine correlations, and odds ratios (OR) were calculated. ResultsParticipation in bullying situations, whether as a victim or perpetrator, increases the likelihood of using tobacco cigarette, hookah, e-cigarettes, clove cigarettes, straw cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs, marijuana, and crack. The non-involved-in-bullying group has a lower chance of using any analyzed substance, followed by the group that is only a victim. Those with the highest likelihood of use are individuals who engage in bullying exclusively, followed by those who experience both situations. ConclusionIn Brazil, being a victim of bullying is associated with the use of various psychoactive substances. Our results align with findings from Latin America, partially differing from studies in developed countries, highlighting the influence of location in understanding these risk associations.