Substance Use Disorders And Rehabilitation Among Youth In Ghana And Effects On The Family
Date
2022-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University Of Ghana
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Substance use disorders (SUDs) is a chronic, relapsing brain disorder that is characterized by
compulsive seeking and use of addictive substances. SUDs among the youth continue to be a global
public health concern. Treatment of SUDs places a heavy burden on public health systems. This
study assessed the factors associated with substance use disorders and examine the effects and cost
burden of SUDs and drug rehabilitation on families in Ghana.
METHODS
The study used an embedded concurrent mixed-method design. It was conducted among 101
participants drawn from four (4) drug rehabilitation centres in the Greater Accra and Eastern
Regions of Ghana, from December 2018 to February 2019. The quantitative component relied on
a matched case-control design. One hundred and one (101) cases were enrolled from the only
existing rehabilitation centres in Ghana, whereas 303 controls consisted of persons living in the
same community as the cases but who had never used substances. A closed-ended questionnaire
and semi-structured interview guide were used for face-to-face quantitative and qualitative data
collection. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA version 15, and qualitative data were
analysed using a thematic approach. The cost burden of substance use rehabilitation was calculated
by summing the direct and indirect costs of managing drug users. The student t-test and one-way
ANOVA test were used to compare average costs. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done
to test statistical relationships between outcome and observed explanatory variables. Statistical
significance was set at a p-value of 0.1%, 1% and 5%.
RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sex, age, highest educational level, employment
status, residential status, and friendship with drug users had a statistically significant association
with SUDs. Male participants had 1.5 (95% CI:1.2-2.5, p=0.001) times higher odds of SUDs than
female participants. Participants aged above 20 years had lower odds of substance use disorders
compared to those aged below 20 years (p<0.01). The estimated average household cost of
rehabilitation was GHS 4,445.60 per month. The mean monthly indirect cost incurred by urban
substance users (472.1 } 196.40) was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of rural
substance users (181.2 } 100.30). Of 101 family members of substance users, 57.4% experienced
a high intangible burden. Overall, the mean UNODC standard rehabilitation compliance was 3.0
( }0.0), signifying that the compliance standards at the rehabilitation facilities were inadequate.
CONCLUSION
Males, rural dwellers and younger age have a higher risk of SUDs. Hence public health strategies
must target such vulnerable groups. To reduce the high-cost burden associated with the
rehabilitation of substance users, the government and stakeholders must subsidize rehabilitation
registration costs which contribute more than half of the economic burden of rehabilitation.
KEYWORDS: Substance use disorder, drug abuse, rehabilitation, youth, economic cost, Ghana.
Description
PhD. Public Health
Keywords
Substance Use Disorders, drug abuse, rehabilitation, Ghana