ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2026
Curiosity, coercion and coping: psychosocial drivers of youth drug use in Sri Lanka.
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Patterns and risk factors of illicit substance abuse by Sri Lankan teenagers: a case-control study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAdolescent substance use is a growing public health concern in Sri Lanka, yet little is known about how youth are first exposed to and continue using illicit substances.
methodsThis qualitative study explored the initiation and continuation of substance use among adolescents aged 10-17 years with a history of drug abuse. 48 adolescents were interviewed at the Youth Drug Addiction Prevention, Treatment & Rehabilitation Centre in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, over a 1-year period. Data were collected through in-depth, semistructured interviews and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis with manual coding.
resultsFive major themes were identified: (1) curiosity-driven and self-initiated use; (2) peer modelling and social apprenticeship; (3) coercion and manipulated consent; (4) emotional triggers including grief and relationship stress and (5) sustained use driven by coping needs, pleasure and physical dependence. Initiation often occurred in familiar environments such as schools, temples and homes, with many adolescents describing use as functional rather than recreational.
conclusionsAdolescent substance use in Sri Lanka is shaped by complex psychosocial and environmental influences. Prevention and intervention strategies must address not only individual behaviour but also social networks, emotional vulnerability and structural access to drugs in community settings.
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