Perceived Causes and Effects of Substance Abuse among Senior High School Students in Ghana

The study sought to find out the cause and effect of substance abuse among students in Ghana and measures to reduce substance abuse. This was a quantitative study underpinning by positivist philosophical thought. It employed a survey design where data were collected using four-point Likert-type scale questionnaire. The data were analysed and the results were presented using independent sample T-test, ANOVA, mean and standard deviation. It emerged from the study that Peer Pressure and Imitation and Curiosity from friends was the major cause of substance abuse among the senior high school students in Ghana. The hypothesis show that Tamale Metropolis was significantly different from Cape Coast Metropolis and Sunyani but Cape Coast and Sunyani Metropolises do not differ significantly Therefore, it is recommended that Government agencies, non-Governmental agencies, and school authorities must have design programs directed at addressing the problem of drugs as part of its curricular or extracurricular activities. Again, the study shows that social and psychological effect for substance abuse were more frequent. However, school guidance services should be strengthened so that students could know the effect of substance abuse when they engage in it. Furthermore, the study suggested that parental monitoring, enlightenment and education were suggested as the factors that could help students curb substance abuse. Mass media like newspapers, magazine and internet should be used to educate students about the effect of engaging in substance abuse.