Over one-fifth of teenagers in India could be at moderate, high risk of substance use: Study
A study of 6,000 Indian teenagers indicates that over 21% are at moderate-to-high risk of substance use. Researchers identified factors such as digital exposure, school environment, and socio-economic status as key contributors to this risk profile.
Why it matters
The data highlights a significant public health concern among Indian youth, suggesting a need for targeted school-based interventions and policy changes.
A study that looked at over 6,000 teenagers from across 108 schools in India has found that over a fifth might be at moderate-to-high risk of substance use.
Published in The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia journal, the study was conducted in government and private schools across six districts -- Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, Assam's Kamrup, Nagpur in Maharashtra, Rajkot in Gujarat), Jharkhand's Deoghar, and Puducherry.
"Overall, 21.4% of adolescents were reported as having moderate (or) high substance use risk, including 10.3 % with moderate risk and 11.1 % with high risk. The remaining adolescents (78.6 %) were reported as low risk," authors, including those from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Gorakhpur and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, wrote.
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