More substance use, bullying, weapon-carrying for military members’ kids

More substance use, bullying, weapon-carrying for military members’ kids


Kids from a U.S. military family are more likely than other kids to engage in certain risky behaviors and also to suffer bullying, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics.

The researchers surveyed high school and middle school kids in California, looking at alcohol or drug use, weapon-carrying and bullying.

Survey results showed that all of these incidents were more common in the group they called “military-connected youth” than among adolescents in civilian families. Military-connected youth include children of veterans, as well as those whose parents currently serve. The researchers noted that about 4 million U.S. kids are military connected.

Notably, this group was about 50 percent more likely to report substance use than their peers.

The researchers cite a variety of tough scenarios that may help to explain the trend toward greater substance use, weapon-carrying and experiences of being bullied.

Family stress such as lengthy parental absences, concern for a parent’s safety, fear of future parental deployments and frequent family moves all may play a role.

Moving around the country… or perhaps the world… also means these kids are often “the new kid” in town. Substance use may be a way of trying to fit in with new classmates or medicating loneliness. And bullies like to pick on new kids and those who already seem down. Carrying weapons at school may be a response to such harassment.

While the authors note that the majority of military-connected youth they surveyed seemed to be well, it’s important to seek to understand the pressures kids face in military life. As their parents serve our country, it’s important that the childrens’ needs and challenges are addressed.

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