Bullying features ‘hugely’ in addicts’ childhoods

Being bullied as a child has emerged as a significant factor in why people who subsequently become alcoholics or drug addicts took their first drink or drug, research has found.

Counsellor Helen Murphy, who examined the link between childhood bullying and substance misuse for her thesis, said “bullying featured hugely” among the men she interviewed where her focus was on “what really caused them to pick up that first drink or drug”.

As part of her research, Ms Murphy, who previously worked for three years at Fellowship House, an extended treatment programme for men that forms part of the Tabor Group addiction treatment service, interviewed men who had been residents in the house and were now in recovery.