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Youth Drug Use Alarms India: Early Start Concerns Rise
4 Aug
Summary
- Adolescents as young as Class VI struggle with substance abuse.
- Average age for first drug, smoking, or alcohol experimentation is 12.9 years.
- One in seven school students has tried a psychoactive substance.
Growing concern over substance abuse among adolescents in India has prompted a national anti-drug campaign. School counselors report dealing with substance abuse cases in students as young as Class VI. A recent AIIMS-Delhi-led survey across 10 Indian cities revealed that the average age for first experimentation with drugs, smoking, or alcohol is 12.9 years, with one in seven students having tried a psychoactive substance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan,' a 100-week initiative urging young people to abstain from drugs. This national effort complements existing preventive measures in schools, such as Prahari Clubs, which focus on peer education and awareness. Delhi schools are also developing specialized classroom modules that teach coping strategies and promote seeking help.
The issue is extending to higher education, with Delhi University implementing its 'Nasha Mukti Prahari' initiative. This program utilizes trained student volunteers to provide initial support to peers, reinforcing continuous awareness campaigns on campuses to address emerging vulnerabilities among university students.
