A recent study of the National Medical Journal of India indicates that experimentation with drugs is beginning as early as age 11 among schoolchildren.
Key Findings of report
- Early Initiation: Average age for initiation for any substance was 12.9 years. It was lowest for inhalants at 11.3 years.
- Prevalence Levels: 15.1% of students reported lifetime use, and 10.3% reported past-year use of psychoactive substances.
Causes of Drug Abuse Among Schoolchildren
- Social Media: Glamorisation of substance use and online peer influence normalise experimentation among children.
- Deficit Parenting: Poor supervision, emotional neglect, and inconsistent discipline weaken protective family structures.
- Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, ADHD, impulsivity, and behavioural difficulties heighten vulnerability to substance use.
Way Forward
- Early Prevention & Awareness Campaigns: Implement school-based preventive education focusing on life-skills training to build informed, resilient children.
- Parental Vigilance & Community Monitoring: Strengthen parental supervision, digital monitoring, and community-level surveillance to detect early signs of substance exposure and restrict access.
- Strict Law Enforcement & Zero-Tolerance Policy: Enforce stringent action against drug peddlers near schools, enhance police–school coordination, and ensure fast-track prosecution under child-protection laws.
- Counselling, Rehabilitation & Mental Health Support: Provide child-friendly counselling, psychological support, and de-addiction services.
