Substance Use in Adolescents at Sundernagri Slums in Delhi - Concerns of the Community Youth

Abstract

In recent years substance use has increased greatly throughout the world.  In particular, adolescence is the critical period when the first initiation of substance use takes place. Substance use is an important concern affecting slum population particularly adolescents and youth. Slum area, resettlement colonies are more prone to such problems and youths residing in these places are vulnerable for substance abuse. Those who suffer most in this battle for survival are the children or adolescents who are exposed to most adverse situations during their tender formative years.

A workshop was conducted for the youth and adolescents in a predominantly slum population at Sundernagri, Delhi to explore and understand the concerns of youth regarding the nature and social factors of substance use in their locality and strategies that they could adopt to build a better community around them.

The youth shared issues like poor education, lack of recreational facilities, poor socio economic condition, poor employment and social opportunities, familial conflicts, easy availability of substance etc. to be contributing greatly to this problem. 

There is an urgent need to develop protective factors within the community to tackle the issue of substance use and criminal behaviour.