Alarming: 1 in 7 Children Use Drugs in Major Indian Cities, Survey Finds

• A survey reveals 1 in 7 school-going children in major Indian cities are using substances like tobacco, alcohol, or cannabis.
• The study, led by AIIMS Delhi, surveyed 5,920 students under 14.7 years across 10 cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai.
• Key findings show 15.1% of students used a substance ever, 10.3% in the past year, and 7.2% in the last month.
• Family influence (40% exposed to family use) and peer pressure are identified as major contributors to early drug initiation.
• The report emphasizes the urgent need for expanded preventive measures, family-based interventions, and redesigned drug awareness programs for younger age groups.

Why It Matters: 1 in 7 children using drugs signals a critical youth substance abuse crisis.