Multi-City Study Finds 21.4% of Indian Adolescents Face Elevated Substance Use Risk
Researchers from AIIMS and JIPMER identify environmental and digital factors as primary drivers of substance risk across six Indian districts. The study highlights significant regional disparities and the urgent need for targeted regulatory interventions.
Regional Disparities and Risk Statistics
A comprehensive study published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia reveals that 21.4% of Indian teenagers are categorized as having a moderate or high risk for substance use. This finding stems from an assessment of more than 6,000 students across 108 schools. The data, analyzed by teams from institutions including AIIMS Gorakhpur and JIPMER Puducherry, segments the at-risk population into 10.3% at moderate risk and 11.1% at high risk.
Geographic location played a major role in these figures. Schools in Guwahati (Kamrup, Assam) and Deoghar (Jharkhand) reported the highest concentrations of at-risk youth. Conversely, Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Puducherry showed predominantly low-risk profiles. The research noted a 35.1 percentage point gap between Guwahati and Nagpur, which the authors attribute to variations in economic status, socio-demographic factors, and school environments.
Environmental Drivers and Digital Influence
The research identified several modifiable factors that correlate with increased vulnerability. Notably, high digital exposure and a permissive attitude toward substance use were linked to higher risk levels. The study also utilized the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS) to measure personality traits and risk categories.
- Easy Access: Physical availability of substances remains a primary risk factor.
- Digital Media: Frequent interaction with online content correlates with elevated risk patterns.
- Gender Dynamics: The data indicated that male teenagers actually showed lower odds of high substance use risk compared to their female counterparts.
- Social Buffers: Active social engagement was identified as a protective factor against substance involvement.
Shift Toward Context-Specific Policy
Researchers argue that general awareness campaigns are insufficient. The findings suggest that interventions must address the specific contextual environments of schools and districts. To combat these trends, the study advocates for a multi-level strategy: strengthening regulatory enforcement to curb substance accessibility and integrating media literacy into curricula to mitigate digital risks.
The report also suggests scaling peer-led initiatives, such as the Community Based Peer-Led Intervention (CPLI) within existing school health frameworks. By moving toward these targeted models, health authorities can better address the diverse settings of Gorakhpur, Kamrup, Nagpur, Rajkot, Deoghar, and Puducherry where the data was gathered.
Source: The Hindu — Sci-Tech
