Prevalence and pattern of substance abuse among male adolescents in urban and rural areas of Dehradun

Background: Substance abuse is a serious problem because it is engulfing the younger generation with serious health, social and economic concern. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of substance abuse among male adolescents and study the habit pattern of substance abusers.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 776 male adolescents residing in urban and rural field practice areas under the department of Community Medicine, through randomly selected house to house visit. Data regarding the current use of alcohol and tobacco was collected in a predesigned and pretested proforma by oral questionnaire method.Results: The prevalence of substance abuse among male adolescents was found to be 22.8% and majority of them used some form of smokeless tobacco, followed by smoking tobacco. Consumption of alcohol or tobacco by adolescents is significantly associated with alcohol or tobacco consumption by their family members.Conclusions: Prevalence of substance abuse was high among the male adolescents and they should be motivated through IEC to give up the habit.