WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Hukma Ram*

ABSTRACT

Substance abuse poses significant challenges globally, affecting individuals, families, and communities.Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with substance initiation often occurring during this developmental stage.Despite increasing recognition of the issue, there's limited research on substance abuse among senior secondarystudents in rural areas like Jodhpur. This study assesses the knowledge and attitudes of senior secondary studentstowards substance abuse. A quantitative approach with a descriptive non-experimental design was adopted,surveying 60 students aged 15-19 at GOVT. Senior Secondary School Kalau, Jodhpur. Data were collected usingstructured questionnaires and attitude scales. Results indicate a moderate level of knowledge but a neutral attitudetowards substance abuse among students. Associations between knowledge, attitude, and socio-demographicvariables were explored, revealing significant correlations with religion, family type, and sources of information.However, factors such as monthly family income and parents' educational status showed no significantassociations. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve awareness and attitudestowards substance abuse among adolescents in rural settings. Collaboration between schools, families, andcommunity organizations is essential for promoting healthier behaviors and attitudes. Further research is needed tounderstand the complex interplay of socio-demographic factors and substance use behaviors among adolescents inrural areas.