Strategies to prevent teenage SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Addictive substance initiation has dangerous health implications for teenage children as it coincides with critical developmental milestones

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Adolescents, poised at the crossroads of childhood and adulthood, are increasingly becoming vulnerable to substance abuse. While traditional addictive substances such as alcohol and tobacco continue to be widely available and used, a new adversary has emerged: vaping. Although banned by the Central and state governments in 2019, vapes aka e-cigarettes are being marketed as a safer alternative to tobacco and have a significant user base among teenage children.

A 2023 survey by the Delhi-based Think Change Forum found that 96 percent of Indian teens aged 14-17 were unaware that vapes are banned countrywide, and 89 percent are oblivious of their harmful effects. Sleek design, nicotine flavored options, and aggressive marketing strategies have made vapes an attractive option for teens, with potential dangers carefully masked. This early addictive substance initiation has dangerous health implications for children as it coincides with critical developmental milestones.