Intoxicants at 13

A multi-city survey by AIIMS-Delhi has raised serious concerns about rising substance abuse among school-going children, with the average age of initiation found to be just under 13 years. The study, covering nearly 6,000 students across 10 Indian cities, found that tobacco and alcohol were the most commonly used substances, followed by opioids and inhalants. Substance abuse increased sharply in higher classes, with students in Classes XI and XII twice as likely to report usage as those in Class VIII. Despite widespread awareness that drug use is harmful, easy access, family exposure and peer influence were identified as major risk factors, underscoring the urgent need for early, sustained prevention programmes in schools

- AGENCIES

The findings also showed substance use increased in higher grades, with grade XI/XII students two times more likely to report use of substances when compared with grade VIII students. This emphasised the importance of continued prevention and intervention through middle and high school.

The study led by Dr Anju Dhawan of AIIMS’ National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, published in the National Medical Journal of India this month, looks at adolescent substance use across diverse regions.