Anagha Lavalekar

Title: Addiction vulnerability in urban adolescents and youth: Awareness- availability, attitude, emotional regulation nexus

Abstract

Addiction is a global concern that has significant effects on public health, mental well-being, and community dynamics. The growing trend of addiction, affecting lifestyles in both rich and economically disadvantaged nations, also. India is urbanizing at a fast speed. More and more children are getting exposed to substances through various sources. The present paper uncovers the role of awareness, availability, and attitude regarding substance use (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, energy drinks) in adolescents in an Indian metro city. It also reveals the relationship between emotional regulation and vulnerability to addiction for this group. A data of ~1900 representative adolescents and youth between age 13 to 22 was collected using a multiple-point, mixed-method research approach applying cluster sampling. The sample included both sexes belonging to different socioeconomic groups. The main tools used were namely: 1) Substance Use Questionnaire: which checked the awareness, availability, and consumption patterns regarding substances, 2) Emotional Regulation Test: involving frustration tolerance, internal locus of control, delay in gratification and assertiveness as factors contributing to emotional regulation, 3) Attitude towards addiction: approach, severity, hope to change for better, consequences, responsibility of behavior, and initiative for change. Interviews and FGDs of various stakeholders (N=77) were also conducted for meaningful supportive data to that obtained from the primary sample. Results indicate that vulnerability to substance use increases with age. Early exposure, easy availability of substances, and modeling in close vicinity together seem to sharply increase the risk for adolescents. Respondents reported intermittent or regular substance use (alcohol and tobacco) by 30 to 70 percent of individuals in close social proximity (family, extended relatives, friends, and acquaintances). However, a moderate yet statistically significant positive relationship between emotional regulation and constructive attitude towards addiction abstinence indicates that emotional regulation plays a critical role in restricting/reducing vulnerability to substance use for this group. Emotional regulation and constructive attitude towards addiction abstinence seem to decline with an increase in age. This might be occurring due to the availability- modeling axis. Thus, it can be inferred that early interventions for building emotional regulation can initiate assertiveness to confront vulnerability and protect adolescents from the ill effects of substance use.

What will the audience take away from presentation:

• The results indicate the critical role of emotional regulation in the prevention of substance addiction. This could be a game-changer for educators, researchers, as well as volunteers and social workers. They can use this result as a baseline reference for developing age and context-specific Social Emotional learning (SEL) programs with special focus on Emotional regulation.

How will this help the audience in their job? Is this research that other faculty could use to expand their research or teaching? Does this provide a practical solution to a problem that could simplify or make a designer’s job more efficient? Will it improve the accuracy of a design, or provide new information to assist in a design problem? List all other benefits.

• Yes… The pointers regarding the awareness-availability axis could be further explored, along with attitudinal disposition, for different demographics. Social workers, counselors, and curriculum designers can use these results to supplement their database and intervention strategies. Student-friendly curriculum design for constructive attitude building regarding substance abstinence could be a niche for educators.


• Similar studies can be designed for cross-cultural samples using the available variable premise, which could be supplemented by other characteristics like socially disadvantaged, urban, school dropouts, and single- parent families, etc.