Abstract:
Illegal drugs continue to be used in Ghana particularly in the urban
centres such as Greater Accra. Illegal drug use can negatively affect health
behaviour, body composition and metabolism. This thesis assessed the
socio-ecological influences that shape illegal drug use initiation,
continuation and termination and the associated nutritional health in Greater
Accra Region of Ghana. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 141
respondents (123 males and 18 females). Data on background
characteristics, personal, interpersonal, societal and institutional influences
on illegal drug use habits were collected using semi-structured
questionnaire. Body composition and blood was collected on each
respondent using standard procedure. Descriptive statistics were presented
for background characteristics, frequency of illegal drug use and socioecological
influences on illegal drug use habits. Predictors of illegal drug
use was determined using Logistic and Poisson regressions. Results
indicated that hallucinogen was the main drug used. The likelihood of using
illegal drugs was found to be associated with age and marital status.
Personal and societal factors were associated with illegal drug use
continuation, interpersonal and societal factors were associated with
initiation of drug use, societal and institutional factors were associated with
illegal drug use termination. There were differences in the biochemical and
enzymatic characteristics observed between male and female illegal drug
users who used the same illegal drugs at the same frequency. Tailored
advocacy, as part of illegal drug use control-policy, and establishment of
treatment and rehabilitation may help mitigate illegal drug use.
