Author Name:- Dr. Alka Pandey & Abhay Singh Rana / Date:- 17 January 2025
Abstract
Background: The transition into college life is often accompanied by new experiences, freedoms,and challenges. Among these, substance abuse emerges as a growing concern, particularly amongfreshmen who may be vulnerable to peer pressure, academic stress, and social experimentation. InIndia, there is limited data on the prevalence and patterns of drug abuse among first-year collegestudents, especially in urban hubs like Greater Noida.Aim: The present study aims to investigate the patterns, prevalence, and influencing factors ofdrug abuse and addiction among freshman college students in Greater Noida, with an emphasis onpolydrug use, peer and family influence, and physical and psychological consequences.
Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10)among a sample of freshman students from various colleges in Greater Noida. Participants wereassessed through a structured questionnaire that examined the frequency and type of substanceuse, contributing factors such as peer pressure and family history, and symptoms related to drugdependency including blackouts, withdrawal, and academic impact.
Conclusion: The findings reveal a concerning level of drug use among first-year college students,with a notable prevalence of polydrug use. Peer influence was found to be a major contributingfactor, along with lack of family supervision. Physical symptoms like blackouts and withdrawaleffects were reported by a significant portion of respondents. These results highlight the urgentneed for targeted intervention strategies, awareness programs, and counselling support withineducational institutions to mitigate the growing issue of substance abuse at the freshman level.Key Words -Drug Abuse, Drug Abusers, Drug Dependent, Drug Abuse Patterns.
