A Cross Sectional Study into Drug Abuse among Youth and Its Association with Socio-demographic and Risk Factors in District Kangra of Himachal Pradesh, India.

Aim: Substance abuse has a detrimental impact on an individual, families and communities posing major public health challenges. Therefore, the present study has been designed to study the level of prevalence of drug abuse among youth and its association with socio demographic and various risk factors.

Methodology: The present research was conducted among 500 students in the age range of 12-25 years. The study was conducted in district Kangra of Himachal Pradesh, India. Out of total 15 blocks from Kangra, five blocks were randomly selected. From these selected blocks five schools and five colleges (one school and one college from each block) were selected for data collection. “The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST)” and self-structured questionnaire were administered to the sample to collect data.

Results: It was revealed that tobacco was the most abused substance (29.2%) followed by alcohol (28.2%) and inhalants (11.8%). Less than 10 per cent of sample used other substances at least once in their lifetime. Moderate level of drug prevalence of drugs was found among study subjects. A highly significant association was observed between factors like age, type of educational institutes, mother’s occupation, bad company, peer pressure, curiosity, and use of drugs by parents with prevalent drug abuse among youth.

Conclusion: It was concluded from the results that use of varied drugs like tobacco, alcohol, inhalants was found to be prevalent among youth. Moderate level of prevalence was reported for drugs like tobacco, cannabis, sedatives, opioids, inhalants and amphetamines. It is a matter of concern for them as they are at risk of health and other problems from their current pattern of substance use. A brief intervention has to be provided for them in terms of awareness and treatment from health professionals or by a specialist in drug and alcohol treatment service.