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Kids Hooked Early: 13 is New Start for Drugs
13 Dec
Summary
- Average age for substance introduction is 13 years.
- Higher grades show significantly increased substance use.
- Nearly half of students find tobacco easily available.
Shocking findings from an AIIMS-Delhi survey indicate that school children are initiating substance use, including drugs, smoking, and alcohol, at an average age of just 13 years. This alarming trend suggests a critical need for early intervention programs, potentially starting in primary school. The study observed a marked increase in substance use among older students, with those in grades 11 and 12 being twice as likely to report use compared to their 8th-grade counterparts.
The survey, encompassing 5,920 students across 10 cities, found that inhalants were the earliest substance of initiation, at an average age of 11.3 years. Overall, 15.1 percent of participants reported lifetime use of substances. Worryingly, nearly half of the students surveyed believed tobacco products were easily accessible to them, and over a third felt the same about alcohol.
Despite 95 percent of children acknowledging the harmful effects of drug use, rates of substance use were significantly higher among boys than girls. Peer and family substance use also emerged as influencing factors. The study underscores the urgent necessity for enhanced prevention and intervention strategies throughout middle and high school years to combat this growing public health concern.
