An Online Survey of Knowledge, Attitude, and Prevalence of Substance Use in School-Going Adolescents of a Regional Area of Punjab, India

Aim: Substance use can begin in adolescence and can lead to school drop-out, involvement in criminal activities, and development of mental health disorders. Good awareness is an important protective factor for keeping adolescents away from substance abuse. This study was planned to describe the knowledge, attitude and prevalence of substance use in school-going adolescents from a regional area of Punjab. Methods: An online survey was conducted recruiting 6927 students of 9th to 12th class. They were administered the English and Punjabi translated version of the “Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire to Substance Abuse” and asked for ever use of substances using WHO-ASSIST. The association of sociodemographic variables with knowledge, attitude, and prevalence was analyzed. Results: Most of the school students had poor knowledge and attitudes regarding substance use. They had limited awareness of the harms and treatment of substance abuse. Social stigma for substance abuse was evident in the majority of students. About 3.3% of students reported ever use of substances. The commonest reported substances were alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis. The knowledge and attitudes were poor in students of urban areas, private schools, students of classes 9th and 10th, and those of middle socioeconomic status. Ever use was higher in males, students from rural areas, and classes 11th and 12th. Conclusions: There is inadequate knowledge and attitude for substance abuse among school-going adolescents in this regional area of Punjab. Students reported a low prevalence of ever use in the online survey.