Indian Students Start Substance Use at 12; Early Prevention Critical

• * A survey of Indian students in 10 cities found substance use begins between ages 12 and 13, with an average initiation age of 12.9 years.
• * Interventions are crucial before middle school, as delaying substance use initiation decreases the likelihood of developing a substance use disorder.
• * The study, involving over 5,900 students, noted increased substance use in higher grades, with 11th/12th graders twice as likely to report use than 8th graders.
• * About 15% of students reported ever using substances, and 10% reported use in the past year; family conflicts were also linked to substance use.
• * Researchers propose prevention programs including drug education, refusal skills, psychological support, and school-based interventions for occasional users.

Why It Matters: Early substance use in Indian students demands urgent, pre-middle school intervention.