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How can today’s substance-using youth be helped to quit? Perspectives of college students from Bangalore, India

Background: Substance use among college students is increasing, yet research regarding their viewpoints on how they can be helped is sparse in India. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore in depth the perspectives of college students as to how college youth can be helped to quit the use of psychoactive substances. Method: Data from focus group interviews with 38 adolescent college students were analyzed qualitatively to identify their viewpoints on how today’s college youth can be helped to quit substance use. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, themes and subthemes were identified. Results: Three major themes (with subthemes) were identified: (1) Patterns of use (commonly used substances, methods of using), (2) Perceived reasons for use (to reduce negative emotions, academic pressure, peer influence, more freedom, rebellious attitudes, media influence, modeling effect, childhood trauma, distrust from family/friends, lack of knowledge regarding the adverse impact of substances, poor life skills, cultural gender-based discrimination) and (3) Interventions needed to help college youth to quit substance use (need for interventions, basic principles to follow when developing interventions, content to be included, methods to be employed for delivering the intervention). Conclusion: The information from this study can guide the development of a comprehensive intervention that is relevant and tailor-made to the specific needs of the college student population.