Objective: Substance misuse is a wide-spread phenomenon that affects all levels of society. The household
survey data of different tribes from Arunachal Pradesh, India were used to present the prevalence of substance use
in different tribes and to examine the association between socio-demographic factors and substance use.
Materials and method: A sample of 3421 tribal individuals aged 15 years and older was extracted from earlier
conducted substance use survey in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The multivariable logistic
regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with substance use.
Results: The prevalence of any substance use was reported to 53.1% and significantly higher among men (67%)
than among women (38%). Alcohol was started at early teenage (14 years) and accepted socially as a ‘holy drink’
shared with family members and others. Tobacco and opium was mainly introduces by their friends. Prevalence of
any substance intake was significantly higher among Tutsa tribe (77%), aged 45 years or older (≥ 75%), among
illiterates (61%), indigenous religion (71%), widow/widower (71%) and household size with 1-3 persons (63%).
Subsequently, regression analysis showed that any substance use was significantly associated with ethnic group,
religion, age, education, occupation and marital status of different tribal communities.
Conclusion: Overall, substance use was very high among the tribal people, indicating strong social, cultural and
traditional belief. These finding has major policy implications, including the need to focus substance use
interventions to young age tribal people.