Dr. Chandrasekhar Warns on India’s Rising Student Substance Abuse, Mobile Phone Dependence Epidemic
chandrasekhar warns india's:
A growing concern in Indian higher education is the alarming prevalence of substance abuse and mobile phone dependence among students, with experts warning that these habits can have long-lasting and destructive impacts on mental health.
Renowned psychiatrist and academician, Dr.
Updated: May 7, 2026
A growing concern in Indian higher education is the alarming prevalence of substance abuse and mobile phone dependence among students, with experts warning that these habits can have long-lasting and destructive impacts on mental health.
Renowned psychiatrist and academician, Dr. C.R. Chandrasekhar, recently addressed the dire situation at a symposium at Sharada Institute of Management, in Bengaluru, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and intervention to prevent student addiction. The psychiatrist’s remarks came as part of the ‘Mental Health, Well Being, and Ragging-Free Campus’ initiative. This effort seeks to tackle a myriad of mental health issues, with a specific focus on the rising menace of substance abuse and phone dependency that plagues institutions of higher learning.
At the heart of Dr. Chandrasekhar’s remarks was the stark reality of a rising tide of substance abuse among college students across India. According to estimates from the National Institute on Substance Abuse, nearly a third of young men, and nearly a quarter of young women, have consumed illicit substances prior to the age of 21. Dr. Chandrasekhar emphasized that the consequences of these behaviors can be catastrophic, from increased risk of psychosis and depression to reduced intellectual performance and compromised relationships.
The rise of smartphone obsession was another pressing concern aired by Dr. Chandrasekhar and co-speakers during the symposium. As students increasingly prioritize online interactions over face-to-face connections, this digital dependence is having far-reaching repercussions on their mental health. The World Health Organization has noted a significant rise in symptoms of depression and anxiety in young adults, linked, in part, to excessive smartphone use.
Moreover, Dr. Chandrasekhar and his colleagues emphasized the impact that substance abuse and phone dependency have on student mental health, relationships, and academic life. Studies have underscored the link between illicit substance use and lower GPAs, along with increased propensity for violence and social conflict. Furthermore, excessive phone use is connected to decreased attention span, strained social connections, and impaired memory and cognitive function.
The alarming spread of substance abuse and mobile phone dependence among Indian students is deeply embedded in societal norms. Pressure to excel academically, coupled with growing expectations about social media participation, can push students towards addictive behaviors as a coping mechanism. Dr. Chandrasekhar and his associates stress that educators, parents, and caregivers must be vigilant about detecting these warning signs and provide timely support to mitigate their impact.
What is at stake for students, in the long run, is nothing short of their future mental, emotional, and vocational well-being. With mental health professionals warning that addiction can have lasting effects on brain development, the onus falls on institutions to address this problem. Dr. Chandrasekhar’s remarks signal a pressing need for increased mental health screenings in Indian higher education, tailored interventions to foster healthy habits, and the engagement of educators and community leaders as advocates for prevention.
Looking ahead, Indian policymakers must prioritize comprehensive measures to address the root causes of addiction and promote healthier social norms. Implementing evidence-based prevention programs and mental health curricula in educational institutions would send a vital message that student well-being takes precedence over academic achievement. Collaborations between schools, government agencies, and community support groups also hold hope for a collaborative approach to tackling the intertwined challenges of substance abuse, mobile phone dependency, and mental health in Indian higher education.
In Dr. Chandrasekhar’s own words, there is an urgent need to ‘transform India’s education system into a healing ecosystem that encourages holistic well-being and encourages our students to develop healthy values and mind sets’.
This stark increase in substance abuse and phone dependency among Indian students speaks to a larger cultural shift where students are increasingly relying on external coping mechanisms to deal with the pressures of academia and social media expectations. It raises an important question about what kind of message we're sending as a society when we prioritize academic success over the emotional well-being of our students.
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