The more often a child experiences peer victimization, the more likely they are to develop depressive symptoms over time, and the greater the odds of them turning to alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, suggests a longitudinal analysis of data from almost 4,300 youths in Alabama, Texas, and California. Details of the study are as follows:

• Peer victimization in 5^th grade was associated with greater depressive symptoms in 7^th grade.
• Such victimization in turn was linked to a greater likelihood of using alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco in 10^th grade.
• The investigators also found an indirect association between 5^th grade peer victimization and 10^th grade substance use, which was mediated through 7^th grade depressive symptoms.