Exploring factors contributing to alcohol abuse among the youth of Sefwi Wiawso.

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.