The social correlates of psychotropic substance use by contemporary youth of Ghana

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Periodical article

Title:	The social correlates of psychotropic substance use by contemporary youth of Ghana
Author:	Yangyuoru, Y.
Year:	1987
Periodical:	Universitas
Volume:	9
Pages:	154-174
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	youth drug use
Abstract:	Focusing on the Catholic youth of Ghana and a wide range of drugs, the author examines the relationship between the experience these youth have had with drugs, and the nature of their interests, activities, and social characteristics. Empirical evidence from a nationwide survey suggests that the incidence of use of cannabis, alcohol and tobacco among the target population is perceived to be very high. Similarly, stimulants, depressants and narcotics are believed to be used by a significant proportion of youth. Hallucinogenic drugs and special substances (petrol and glue sniffing) are the least prevalent. However, actual personal experimentation with these substances is consistently lower than perceived use. With the exception of alcohol, narcotics and tobacco, in that order, personal use of all other substances is low. Actual use of drugs is related to three broad sets of salient factors, namely social characteristics (sex, age), primary socializers (father, foster parents or mother, level of religiosity of parents and offspring) and peer relations. Abstr., bibliogr.