Archive · 13 Dec 2025
Study Reveals 13 as Average Age for Substance Use Among School Children in India
A big study in India found that many school kids start using harmful substances like tobacco, alcohol, and drugs at a very young age, around 13 years old.
The study looked at over 5,000 students in different cities.
It found that older students in grades 11 and 12 are more likely to use these substances than younger students.
The most common substances used are tobacco and alcohol.
Many kids also think these substances are easy to get.
The study also found that kids with family members or friends who use these substances are more likely to use them too.
Most kids know that drug use is harmful, but many still try it.
Average age of initiation for substance use among school children is around 13 years.
Substance use increases with higher grades, with grade XI/XII students twice as likely to use substances compared to grade VIII students.
Most common substances used in the past year are tobacco (4%), alcohol (3.8%), and opioids (2.8%).
Nearly half of the students believe tobacco is easily available, and over a third think alcohol is easily accessible.
Substance use is significantly higher among boys than girls, and students with substance-using family members or peers are more likely to use substances.
- Who
- School-going children in 10 Indian cities
- What
- Substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and inhalants
- When
- Data collected between May 2018 and June 2019
- Where
- Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Delhi, Dibrugarh, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ranchi
- Why
- To understand the prevalence and patterns of adolescent substance use
- Study Conducted By
- AIIMS-Delhi
- Number of Students Surveyed
- 5,920
- Average Age of Initiation
- 12.9 years
- Lowest Age of Initiation
- 11.3 years (Inhalants)
- Most Common Substance Used
- Tobacco (4%)
- Percentage Reporting Family Tobacco/Alcohol Use
- 40%
- Percentage Reporting Peer Substance Use
- Higher for inhalants, sedatives, cannabis, opioids than family
