Understanding Youth Substance Use: Theories and Causes

Youth substance use has no single cause; it emerges where individual vulnerability, close relationships, institutions and wider society interact. This article reviews the main theoretical explanations for why young people begin, continue and escalate the use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, opioids, sedatives and inhalants. It examines neurodevelopmental theory, the self-medication and stress-coping hypotheses, social learning theory, problem behaviour theory, social control theory and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model. It then integrates these perspectives into a multilevel risk-and-protection model and applies it to contemporary conditions such as digital media, urban migration, academic and occupational pressure, and easy availability. Indian national survey data are used to situate the discussion. The article argues that prevention should be multi-component, developmentally timed and non-stigmatising, strengthening protective factors as deliberately as it reduces risks.