Avg age of school-going children picking up drugs, smoking habit in 10 Indian cities around 13 yrs: Study

Schoolgoing children are picking up drug and smoking habits and engaging in consumption of alcohol with the average age of introduction to such harmful substances found to be around 13 years suggesting a need for earlier interventions as early as primary school a multicity survey by AIIMSDelhi saidThe findings also showed substance use increased in higher grades with grade XIXII students two times more likely to report use of substances when compared with grade VIII students This emphasised the importance of continued prevention and intervention through middle and high schoolThe study led by Dr Anju Dhawan of AIIMSs National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre published in the National Medical Journal of India this month looks at adolescent substance use across diverse regionsThe survey included 5920 students from classes 8 9 11 and 12 in urban government private and rural schools across 10 cities Bengaluru Chandigarh Delhi Dibrugarh Hyderabad Imphal Jammu Lucknow Mumbai and Ranchi The data were collected between May 2018 and June 2019The average age of initiation for any substance was 129 28 years It was lowest for inhalants 113 years followed by heroin 123 years and opioid pharmaceuticals without prescription 125 yearsOverall 151 per cent of participants reported lifetime use 103 per cent reported past year use and 72 per cent reported use in the past month of any substance the study foundThe most common substances used in the past year after tobacco 4 per cent and alcohol 38 per cent were opioids 28 per cent followed by cannabis 2 per cent and inhalants 19 per cent Use of nonprescribed pharmaceutical opioids was most common among opioid users 902 per centOn being asked Do you think this substance is easily available for a person of your age separately for each substance category nearly half the students 463 per cent endorsed that tobacco products and more than onethird of the students 365 per cent agreed that a person of their age can easily procure alcohol productsSimilarly for Bhang 219 per cent ganjacharas 161 per cent inhalants 152 per cent sedatives 137 per cent opium and heroin 10 per cent each the students endorsed that these can be easily procuredAbout 95 per cent of the children irrespective of their grade agreed with the statement that drug use is harmfulThe rates of substance use any among boys were significantly higher than those of girls for substance use ever use in the past year and use in the past 30 days Compared to grade VIII students grade IX students were more likely and grade XIXII students were twice as likely to have used any substance everThe likelihood of pastyear use of any substance was also higher for grade IX students and for grade XIXII students as compared to grade VIII studentsAbout 40 per cent of students mentioned that they had a family member who used tobacco or alcohol each The use of cannabis any product and opioid any product by a family member was reported by 82 per cent and 39 per cent of students respectively while the use of other substances such as inhalantssedatives by family was 23 per cent the study foundA relatively smaller percentage of students reported use of tobacco or alcohol among peers as compared to among family members while a higher percentage reported inhalants sedatives cannabis or opioid use among peersChildren using substances past year compared to nonusers reported significantly higher any substance use by their family members and peersThere were 257 per cent students who replied yes to the question conflictsfights often occur in your family Most students also replied affirmatively to family members are aware of how their time is being spent and damily members are aware of with whom they spend their timeThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever