In Stoned, Shamed, Depressed, journalist Jyotsna Mohan Bhargava investigates the secret lives of India’s urban teens and comes up with an eye-opening account — of struggles with addiction to substances, social media and gaming, dealing with intense peer pressure, bullying and body shaming, and the resultant physical and mental health issues.

This book chronicles the confused journey of Indian teens to adulthood — along a road that is full of temptation, where boundaries are easily blurred, and where the lure of easy adventure, often in the virtual world, can unleash events that have repercussions for years to come. The narrative interweaves accounts of teens, parents, teachers and child psychologists to reveal a deeply disturbing picture of modern-day school life in urban India.