Factors Contributing to Substance Use Among Senior High School Students in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

The study examined factors that contribute to substance use among senior high school students in the Kumasi Metropolis. The study was carried out employing the descriptive survey design. A sample of 385 SHS 2 students was used for the study. Stratified and simple random techniques were used to select the respondents. The data collected were analysed using frequencies, percentages, standard deviation, mean and simultaneous multiple linear regression. It was revealed that the substances used mostly by the students were coffee and alcohol with percentages of 21.9% and 6.3% respectively. It was further revealed that familial factors such as parental usage of drugs, ineffective monitoring by parents and poor parent-child relationship influenced the use of substance by the students. Peer pressure and influence of the media were identified as social factors. It was further found that personal factors such as poor school performance, self-esteem and stress influenced the use of drug by the students. It was concluded that the most abused substances (alcohol and coffee), are all legal substances. Also, in terms of relative contributions, familial factors contributed most, followed by personal and social factors. In view of this, it is recommended that the Guidance and Counselling unit of the various SHSs be encouraged to organize regular and comprehensive guidance programmes on drug use to sensititize students on dangers of substance use and abuse. Besides, the study recommends that parents desist from using alcohol and other illicit substances in the presence of their children.