Abstract:
The purpose of the study is to explore factors contributing to alcohol abuse among the
youth of Sefwi Wiawso township. A phenomenological research design guided this study.
Twenty participants who were involved in this study were sampled using snowball
sampling approach. Semi-structured interview guide was used to gather data and it was
analyzed thematically. The study revealed that the youth of Sefwi Wiawso township abused
liquid substances. The liquid substances include both local and exotic imported alcoholic
beverages such as akpeteshie, palm wine, Guinness, beer and dry gin. The study pointed
out that peer pressure, poor parental control, energy from drugs to work for more hours are
the influential factors influencing the youth to drink alcohol. The study also revealed that
the adverse effects associated with alcohol abuse among the youth of Sefwi Wiawso are
school dropouts, unemployment and health challenges. Some youth were sacked and some
dropped out of school to continue drinking alcohol. Some youth were sacked from their
work due to poor concentration and absenteeism. The study also revealed that the
establishment of well-resourced counseling unit emerged as one of the measures of
preventing alcohol drink among the youth, the provision of information of the various kinds
of substances and their effects and how to overcome the temptation was another strategy
to overcome alcoholism and also the participants saw vocational and skill training as an
effective measure to assist the youth to stop engaging in alcoholism. The study
recommended that parents should be encouraged to get involved in broad preventive efforts
because they have a crucial role to play in preventing alcoholism among their children
through their role as parents. Strong parent-child relationships can prevent alcoholism
among the youth. This study determined that one of the major reasons for alcoholism
among youth is the availability of alcohol from the community. Lack of community support
for the war against alcoholism is likely to curtail government support initiatives in
preventing alcoholism among the youth.
Description:
A dissertation in the Department of Counselling Psychology, Faculty of Applied
Behavioural Sciences in Education, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in
partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of
Philosophy (Counselling Psychology) in the University of Education, Winneba
JANUARY 2026