Psychotropic substance abuses and academic attainments of learners from randomly selected school environments and reviews of previous joint studies at KNUST in Ghana

Abstract

Psychotropic effects of substance abuse on academic attainments was studied from a cross sectional descriptive survey from January to June, 2010 in Bosomtwi and Atwima Kwanwoma Districts. Entirely thirteen beneficiaries of School Health Education Programmes (SHEP) interventions between 5 to 10 years intervals, sub-divided into ten Junior High (JHS), and three public Senior High (SHS) were randomly selected based on learners’ gender ratios using questionnaire and instructional guidelines approved by the school authorities for interview of 600 (258 females and 342 males) respondents. Majority (42 to 94%) were victims of coffee and alcohol abuse while 31% were implicated for marijuana, amphetamine, cocaine and heroin. About 56% resorted to drugs hoping to improve their academic performances with 11% consequently developing truant behaviors and abysmal achievements. Family members and friends often lured/provided money for 61% of learner’s drug purchase while 96% were addicted averagely at 11.5 years old. Proportionately, 51% males were abusing drugs against 45% females. Likelihood ratio of abuse amongst genders cohorts were both asymptotically (P<0.07) and linearly (P<0.4) not significantly different. Substance abuse problems worsened in divorced marriages and single parent families where financial constraints and inadequate care compel learners to depend on drugs as probable solution to their depression and stress. The overall analysis revealed little improvement on learners’ academic performances with increased drug use. Parent Teacher Associations need to strengthen the implementation of child care monitoring interventions in homes and schools to curtail rampant drug abuse problems through pilot School Health Education Programmes (SHEP).