Treatment and Recovery Programs for Young Teens and Students in India

In India, substance misuse is becoming a bigger problem, with young teens and students being especially at risk. They may get addicted due to peer pressure, academic stress, or ignorance. Thankfully, there are a growing number of addiction treatment and recovery programs available to assist youth in overcoming addiction and creating better futures.  

According to studies, the majority of youth who use substances including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and various prescription medications on a regular basis are between the ages of 13 and 19, and this is not just limited to urban areas of the country but also prevalent in semi-urban and rural areas.

The National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India, 2019, reports that 14.6% of kids between the ages of 10 and 17 use drugs or alcohol. In this age range, alcohol is the most often used substance (3.1%), followed by cannabis (4.6%) and opioids (2.8%).

Understanding the Landscape of Substance Addiction Amongst the Youth

Substance addiction among young teens and students in India has many complex causes. Among the contributing elements, here are four major causes:

Increased Availability: Drugs and alcohol are easily available, hence there is a higher likelihood that adolescents will undertake “risk behaviors.

Academic Pressure: It is seen that some students resort to drug abuse as a form of coping with the challenges of life to perform well in class 

Socioeconomic Factors: Genetic factors, the subject’s family, poverty, and opportunities are some of the factors that can promote and reinforce drug addiction and abuse.

Mental Health Problems: Another factor that can lead to increased alcohol/substance use among the young population is mental health; if the young person is experiencing depression or anxiety, they are more likely to engage in alcohol or substance use.

A Tailored Approach to Prevent Addiction Amongst Youth

Addiction treatment and recovery programs for young teens and students must be specifically designed to cater to their unique needs. Some key elements include:

School-Based Prevention

The majority of efforts to create and evaluate evidence-based strategies for preventing teenage drug misuse are directed toward schools. School-based initiatives are effective because they provide access to a large number of students.

Social Resistance Skills

The aim of these treatments is to educate adolescents on particular skills to effectively resist peer and media pressures to smoke, drink, or use drugs, as well as to raise their understanding of the different social variables that favor drug addiction. Teens enrolled in resistance skills training programs learn how to identify circumstances in which they may be subjected to peer pressure to take drugs, smoke, or drink. 

Normative Education

Normative education methods incorporate educational materials and exercises aimed at rectifying false beliefs about the widespread occurrence of substance addiction. Adolescents tend to exaggerate the frequency of smoking, drinking, and using certain substances, which might lead to the perception that substance use is the standard. Youth views of drug usage’s social acceptability can be lowered by educating them about real rates of use, which are nearly always lower than perceived rates of use. 

Competence-Enhancement

Programs for improving competency acknowledge the role that social learning processes play an important role in the emergence of teenage drug use. They also acknowledge that young people who lack social and personal skills are more vulnerable to factors that encourage drug use. 

Additionally, these young people could be more inclined to turn to drug use as a substitute for more flexible coping mechanisms. Competency improvement strategies often impart one or more of the following life skills: skills for enhancing self-control and self-esteem, general cognitive skills, and general problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Life Skills Training

The goal of the Life Skills Training (LST) program is to affect the main psychological and social determinants that encourage drug use. The main objective of these initiaves are to achieve drug deaddiction. Several curricula have been designed for elementary school (grades three to six), middle or junior high school (grades six through eight, or grades seven through nine), and high school (grades nine or ten). The three primary parts of the LST program address important areas that have been linked to drug use promotion. 

Addiction Treatments and Interventions for Young Teens and Students in India:

National Mental Health Program 

The National Mental Health Programme is a government operation plan in India. Its purpose is to ensure that mental health treatments are accessible to all, including young individuals like secondary school-going students. Two strategic initiatives that NMHP undertakes include the enhancement of mental health literacy in the nation and efforts to close the treatment gap. The NMHP was formally launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India to incorporate mental health services within the primary healthcare system. The program focuses on early identification and intervention for students and young teens. Improving the quality of a young teen’s mental health help in “nasha mukti.” 

Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram 

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has undertaken a health program focusing on several health facets for adolescents between 10 and 19 years old, including nutrition and diet, adolescent pregnancy, alcohol abuse, and more. Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram was started on January 7, 2014. The program focuses on the engagement of adolescents, gender equity, and inclusion with other sectors and stakeholders in the program. It will also allow all teenage children in India to access various sources of help and assistance easily.

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction was launched by India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. In terms of substance abuse, this program includes the release of funds to state governments, union territory administrations, and non-governmental organizations for preventive education and awareness generation concerning addiction and the administration and maintenance of integrated rehabilitation centers for addicts as well as other addiction treatment facilities.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan 

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a nasha mukti intitiative that operates in 372 districts,

 identified as the country’s least privileged districts. It focuses on addiction-related sensitization campaigns and surveys in groups like university campuses, school-going children,  and young alcohol dependents. Till now, through the various activities undertaken on the ground, 10.47+ crore people have been sensitized on substance use, including 3.34+ Crore Youth and 2.22+ Crore Women. The participation of 3.23+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches the country’s children and youth.

Reducing Substance Misuse Among Young People Is a Combined Effort

Government policies, educational programs, community-based initiatives, and treatment for drug dependence working together can dramatically lower the rate of substance abuse among India’s youth. Young teens and students can overcome addiction and have healthier, more hopeful futures if we provide a supportive environment and easily accessible services.