Peer pressure leads to drug abuse: Study

MUMBAI: A survey by psychiatrists has found that most teenagers in Mumbai are just a friend away from substance abuse. Nearly 90% of the respondents aged between

MUMBAI: A survey by psychiatrists has found that most teenagers in Mumbai are just a friend away from substance abuse. Nearly 90% of the respondents aged between 14 and 20 were aware of drug abuse and knew someone who was grappling with it.

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Around 700 teens were interviewed from across 12 educational institutes mostly in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, and few in Pune. Of these, 621 said that drugs are the most common substance used by their peer group, followed by alcohol (585) and tobacco (342). Maximum respondents mentioned weed or cannabis; they considered it harmless and said they use it multiple times a day. Around 22% knew about ‘MD’ or ‘meow meow’ (the street name for mephedrone), 15% have heard of cocaine and 7% are aware about white ink an office stationery item - being used to get high. “Boys seemed to be more aware than girls. They knew the specific drug and its effects, while girls had general information,” said Dr Harish Shetty, senior psychiatrist, Dr LH Hiranandani Foundation Hospital, Powai.

He carried out the survey over the last eight months, along with psychologist, Shalet Fernandes.

Children were aware of substances such as hash, meth, heroin, charas, ganja and brown sugar, among others. Among alcoholic drinks, beer, wine and vodka were well-known.

“Drugs have reached the minds of children as young as 14 years. This is the right time to make them aware of the consequences,” said Shetty.

The respondents said that peer-pressure and stress are the main reasons behind abusing substances followed by curiosity and depression.