Factors Associated With Substance Use Among Senior High School Students In Kwahu East District

ABSTRACT Background: The use of substance among Secondary Cycle School Students is a public health problem which needs global attention. Globally, it is approximated that, 2 billion people consume alcohol whiles 1.3 billion are smokers, and 185 million use any of the illicit drugs which affect the mood of the user. In Kwahu East District little is known about substance use among second cycle schools. The aim of this study is to gather empirical evidence on substance use among senior high school students. Factors associated with use was also analysed. Methodology: A cross sectional study design was used for the research. Three schools were randomly selected from total of seven schools in the district by balloting. A systematic random sampling was used in the selection of students. Class registers were used to systematically select the required number of students needed for the study. Data was collected from 403 students using semi- structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed using Stata version 15.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to describe the data and to find associations. Results: The study also found out that alcohol was the most used substance ( 29.7%), followed by marijuana (7%), tramadol (6.3%) and tobacco (6%) with friends use of substance (p=0.002), students use of substance (0.0016), physical abused (0.033) and sexual abused (0.027) were the highest risk factors associated with substance use among the students. Parental monitoring (0.003) was found to be a protective factor associated with substance use. Conclusion: Substance use was high among senior high school students in Kwahu East District, therefore there is the need for social intervention to reverse this situation.