Getting the Monkey Off Your Back: Teen Perceptions of Substance Abuse among their Peers in Delhi

By : Vrinda Kaushik

Page No: 683-697

Abstract
Teen substance use has been a growing problem in many parts of the world. India is no exception. Due to the ease of access of illicit substances in Delhi, teens in this city are particularly susceptible to substance abuse. The purpose of this research study was to explore Indian adolescents’ perceptions of the factors that influence substance abuse amongst their peers in Delhi through a mixed-method research approach. An online survey was used to gather the respondents’ quantitative ratings of the extent of substance abuse among their peers and their perceptions of the contributing factors. The regression analysis identified Familial Relationships, Social Pressures (peers and social media), and Ease of Availability as the statistically significant factors. The respondents’ responses to open-ended questions further showed a mutually reinforcing interaction of these factors. Many considered the root of the problem to lie in the quality of familial relationships characterised by weak parent-adolescent relationships due to poor communication and an overemphasis on academics and achievements at the expense of emotional wellbeing. This in turn leads to the teens’ excessive reliance on their peers for validation and support. In their desire to ‘fit in’ and experience a sense of belonging, which is also reinforced by the collectivist orientation of Indian societies, these teens are then at high risk of falling prey to substance abuse, particularly in a highly-urbanised city like Delhi. The findings of this research study provide invaluable insights that could be translated into practical measures such as parental training programmes, family intervention therapy, media campaigns, school- and community-based programmes, and youth-centric services at substance de-addiction centres.

Author :
Vrinda Kaushik : DPS International, Saket, New Delhi.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPR.2020.15.02.29