Street Survival to Substance Use: The Impact of Drug Addiction on Street Children in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract Bangladesh has one of the largest populations of street children in South Asia, with millions growing up without stable housing, food security, or parental care. A significant proportion is concentrated in Dhaka, where exposure to poverty, neglect, and negative peer influence creates an environment in which drug use becomes a common coping strategy. Substance use among these children not only reflects immediate survival mechanisms but also leads to profound physical, psychological, and social vulnerabilities, underscoring the urgent need for research and intervention. The study conducted in Dhaka city and collected data were organized and analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Our study found that about 40% of the surveyed street children are currently using drugs. Alarmingly, 33.3% of them could not recall their family members or had no memory of their familial background. Children between the ages of 6 and 9 appeared to be the most vulnerable, with nearly 70% in this age group becoming addicted to drugs. As a result, approximately 40% of the children reported experiencing physical, mental, emotional, or social problems linked to substance use. Additionally, 30% of the children who had previously attended school had since dropped out and were no longer receiving formal education. Our findings also reveal that 43.33% of the children initiated drug use through cigarettes. When asked about potential solutions, 73.33% of the respondents agreed that a child’s own willingness plays the most critical role in overcoming addiction. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions addressing the root causes of drug addiction among street children in Dhaka. Comprehensive rehabilitation programs, early childhood support, nutritional assistance, and community-based outreach are critical to reducing substance abuse in this vulnerable population. Policymakers, NGOs, and health authorities must prioritize long-term, child-centered strategies to ensure protection, recovery, and social reintegration for street children in Bangladesh. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Funding Statement This study did not receive any funding. Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: All relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, the study received approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Institute of Health Economics, the University of Dhaka to ensure compliance with ethical principles and safeguard the rights of participants. As most of the participants were living without parents and under the age of 18, we took assents from children themselves. The institutional ethical committee approved obtaining consent from children as most of them were without legal guardians; a waiver of parental consent was granted by the IRB. Additionally, necessary permission was obtained from relevant local authorities to conduct research in the selected areas. Children were assured that their responses would remain anonymous and confidential. I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes Footnotes In the top header section, the title was modified as "Street Survival to Substance Use: The Impact of Drug Addiction on Street Children in Dhaka, Bangladesh". Data Availability All data produced in the present work are contained in the manuscript.