Alarming Study Reveals Children in 10 Indian Cities Picking Up Drug and Smoking Habits Around Age 13
New Delhi, December 13, 2025 – A multi-city survey conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has revealed a disturbing trend: school-going children in India are increasingly experimenting with drugs, smoking, and alcohol at an alarmingly young age. The study, published this month in the National Medical Journal of India, indicates that the average age of initiation into substance use is around 13 years, necessitating earlier interventions, potentially as early as primary school.
The survey, led by Dr. Anju Dhawan of AIIMS's National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), examined adolescent substance use across diverse regions, encompassing 5,920 students from classes 8, 9, 11, and 12. These students were drawn from urban government, private, and rural schools across 10 major Indian cities: Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Dibrugarh, and Ranchi. Data collection occurred between May 2018 and June 2019.
The study revealed that the average age of initiation for any substance was 12.9 years. Inhalants had the lowest average age of initiation (11.3 years), followed by heroin (12.3 years) and non-prescribed pharmaceutical opioids (12.5 years). Overall, 15.1% of participants reported lifetime use of any substance, 10.3% reported use within the past year, and 7.2% reported use within the past month. Tobacco (4%) and alcohol (3.8%) were the most commonly used substances in the past year, followed by opioids (2.8%), cannabis (2%), and inhalants (1.9%). A concerning 90.2% of opioid users reported using non-prescribed pharmaceutical opioids.
The findings also highlighted that substance use increased with age, with students in grades XI and XII being twice as likely to report substance use compared to those in grade VIII. This underscores the importance of continued prevention and intervention efforts throughout middle and high school. Gender-based patterns also emerged, with boys more likely to report tobacco and cannabis use, while girls showed higher rates of inhalant and pharmaceutical opioid consumption. More than half of the students surveyed admitted they would conceal their substance use if asked, suggesting the actual prevalence may be even higher.
The study also established a strong link between drug use and emotional distress, with 31% of past-year users exhibiting high psychological difficulty scores compared to 25% of non-users. Significant differences were noted in conduct issues, hyperactivity, and emotional symptoms. Easy access to substances was also a contributing factor, with nearly half of the students (46.3%) believing tobacco products were easily accessible to someone their age.
These findings align with earlier reports indicating a worrying trend of early substance use among Indian children. One report indicated that over 625,000 Indian children between the ages of 10 and 14 smoke cigarettes daily. Experts suggest that factors such as peer pressure, curiosity, managing emotional distress, and the desire to fit in contribute to substance use among children. The glamorization of substance use on social media and a lack of parental supervision are also significant contributing factors.
The AIIMS study emphasizes the urgent need for early intervention and prevention programs targeting children as young as those in primary school. These programs should focus on life-skills training to build resilience and informed decision-making. Parental vigilance, community monitoring, and strict law enforcement are also crucial to detect early signs of substance exposure and restrict access to drugs. Additionally, accessible child-friendly counseling, psychological support, and de-addiction services are essential for children struggling with substance abuse.
