Substance Abuse among Young People in India - Approaches at Curbing the Menace

Abstract

India also has a huge at-risk to substance abuse young population with 40% being below the age of 18 years. As observed a notable proportion of teens in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have been using gateway drugs. Every year, about 55,000 children take up to smoking generally hailing from low socio-economic strata. This risky behavior is often initiated during childhood and adolescence, as more than 70% of adult smokers report that they started smoking on a daily basis prior to age 18. Substance abuse creates a huge hindrance for survival, protection, growth and development of healthy children, which is fundamental for improving quality of life. Protecting children from substance abuse has to be considered the most essential and urgent need for creating a ‘World fit for Children’ and for a meaningful achievement of the ‘Millennium Development Goals’.This paper looks at the extent, patterns and trends of substance abuse problem among children in India, primarily through review of studies and also substantiates it with the field based observations by linking personal experience of working with marginalized children with a national level NGO running the Ministry supported Drug De-Addiction Centre and Integrated Child Protection Scheme. The paper will also discuss the existing challenges in addressing the substance abuse problem while emphasizing the need to focus beyond the bio-medical and behavioral modification approach based intervention. It also suggests comprehensive approaches for substance abuse intervention that would address the full spectrum of determinants in the complex Indian context.