Over one-fifth of teenagers in India could be at moderate, high risk of substance use: Study
The findings suggest that contextual environments drive substance use risk in teenagers in India, which has important implications for policy and programme, the researchers said
A comprehensive study examining substance use risk among over 6,000 Indian teenagers across 108 schools has revealed that 21.4% of adolescents face moderate to high risk. Conducted in six districts, including those from Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Puducherry, the research was led by experts from institutions like AIIMS Gorakhpur and JIPMER Puducherry.
Schools in Guwahati and Deoghar exhibited the highest rates of high and moderate risk, while Nagpur and Puducherry displayed predominantly low-risk profiles. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia, utilized the WHO ASSIST screening tool to assess risk, which was also found to correlate with digital exposure and unfavorable attitudes towards substance use.
Male teenagers had lower odds of higher risk compared to their female counterparts. Factors such as accessibility to substances, digital exposure, and risky environments were identified as modifiable elements contributing to higher risk. The researchers emphasize the importance of context-specific, multi-level interventions, including regulatory enforcement, media literacy, and peer-led programs, to effectively address the issue.
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