Conference Abstract | Volume 9, Abstract 028 (ConfProc7) | Published: 04 May 2026
Thywill Fafali Wormade1,&, Samuel Adolf Bosoka1, Benedicta Owusu Arthur1, Saeed Jabactey Abdullah1, Gameli Kwesi Goka1, Paul Angwaawie1, Alice Sallar Adams1, Peter Kofi Alordji1, Emmanuel Graham Nii Martei Martey1, Seidu Jabir1, Ewurabena Ntiamoah Bediako1, Annette Akpene Asraku1, Titus Yaawie1, Felix Bosonkui1, Perpetual Asantewaa1, Isaac Obeng Tandoh1, Richard Nunyuieto1, Cecilia Kitsi1, Latif Gbadamashie1, Rita Asante Kusi1, Samuel Dapaah1, George Akowuah1, Belinda Nsiah Opoku1, Jennifer Nai Dowetin1, Magdalene Akos Odikro1, Samuel Sackey1, Ernest Kenu1
1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Thywill Fafali Wormade, Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, Email: tfwormade@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4851-1763
Received: 29 Aug 2025, Accepted: 28 Oct 2025, Published: 04 May 2026
Domain: Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Prevalence, determinants, substance abuse, ASSIST Tool, youth, Ghana
©Thywill Fafali Wormade et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Thywill Fafali Wormade et al. Prevalence and determinants of substance abuse among the youth in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta and Oti regions of Ghana, 2025. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfProc7):028. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO7-0028
In Ghana, despite existing interventions, youth substance abuse persists with limited evidence on its drivers. We assessed the prevalence and determinants of substance abuse and explored the lived experiences of substance abusers in Volta, Oti, Eastern and Greater Accra Regions to guide target interventions.
We employed an analytical cross-sectional design using a semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Participants were aged 18-35 years selected through the WHO 30×7 cluster sampling method. Substance abuse was defined as moderate or high-risk use of any substance per the WHO ASSIST tool. Additionally, focus group discussions (FGDs) using snowball sampling explored lived experiences and contextual drivers of substance abuse. Quantitative data were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Qualitative data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically.
Of 901 youths surveyed, majority 65.2% (587/901) were males with a median age of 25 years (IQR: 21–30). Prevalence of substance abuse was 27.9% (251/901), highest in Volta Region 36.7% (92/251) and lowest in Oti Region 15.9% (40/251). Alcohol 14.3% (129/901) and tobacco 10.4% (94/901) were the most abused substances. Being male (aOR=1.81; 95%CI: 1.11–2.94), aged ≥30 years (aOR=3.55; 95%CI: 1.74–7.26), exposure to physical violence (aOR=2.85; 95%CI: 1.76–4.62), and peer substance use (aOR=7.96; 95%CI: 5.08–12.48) significantly increased the odds of substance abuse, while tertiary education was decreased the odds (aOR=0.12; 95%CI: 0.04–0.35). Peer influence, unemployment, and emotional distress motivated both initiation and continued use amidst stigma and social exclusion.
One in four youth in the Volta, Oti, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions abuse substance with alcohol and tobacco being the most common. Determinants included being a male, aged over 29, exposure to violence, and peer use, while higher education offers protection. Strengthening youth-focused prevention programs across the regions with targeted interventions will reduce substance abuse.
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