Substance abuse has steadily grown into one of the most pressing public health challenges in India today. It is no longer an issue confined to any single group or region; rather, it affects people across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, age groups, and communities. What makes this concern particularly alarming is its increasing reach among adolescents and young adults—an age group that is both highly impressionable and crucial for the nation’s future. At this stage of life, individuals often encounter multiple influences such as curiosity, peer pressure, academic stress, family expectations, emotional vulnerabilities, and limited access to accurate information about substances. Together, these factors can gradually shape risky behaviours that may lead to dependency and long-term harm