Youth and Drug Abuse in India

"The youth of a Nation are the trustees of posterity" - Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) British Politician & Author
The present study is an attempt to examine the Youth and Drug Abuse in India, reviewing a microcosm of drug situation among youth in Andhra Pradesh, particularly Visakhapatnam City. It focuses on the perceptions of the substance abusers, the causes for their addiction to drugs, smoking and alcohol; the role of their families, friends and social environment and the law enforcing agencies in curbing/spreading this menace. The study has taken 200 youth by following snowball sampling method. The youth of the affluent and the middle-classes are in abundance in the City. As they have access to material comforts, most of them try to lead lavish and stylish life that subseqaentiy offers them a wide variety of things to experiment with. In this process they taste the thrill of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs- just for a change but unfortunately, they are caught in the vicious circle of addiction to harmful substances and drug abuse.