Abstract:
The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of substance use, the age of first substance
use and factors the influence the use among Junior High school pupils in the Dangme West
District. Stratified random sampling of 366 JHS pupils within the eight education circuit areas in
the district completed structured questionnaires. Four focus group discussions were carried out
with two groups of girls and two groups of boys and five key informants interviewed on substance
use. A structured questionnaire was completed by the pupils, and collected in the same sessions.
Data was collected using the structured questionnaire and was analyzed using SPSS. Tests of
significance were conducted with chi-square and 2-sample t-test for age. The mean age for the
JHS pupils was15.3 years. Substance use prevalence was 17% with a mean age of 15.9 years
(Std. Dev.=1.7,range=13-25 years). Alcohol was the only substance used by the JHS pupils, with
no significant difference in gender or class. Age was significantly related to substance use
(p=0.003).
Father‘s religion, mother‘s religion, source of money and area of residence also
differed significantly between those who used substances and those who did not. Age of first or
initial substance use occurred predominantly at 11years (37.9%). Perception of places substances
are taken, source of initiation of use and the effects on the community differed significantly
between the two groups. From the focus group discussions and key informant interviews socio-
economic activities, poverty and peer pressure also influence substance use among JHS pupils and
the youth in the Dangme West District in general.
