International Journal of Health Sciences

A Survey of Drug Abuse among Prison Inmates in Ghana
Adu-Gyamfi Serwaa, Nkyi K. Anthony, Doh Fia Stephen

Abstract
This study investigated the incidence of drug abuse among prison inmates in Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method specifically a concurrent triangulation design. The study population included all inmates in the Ankaful Main Camp Prison and Sekondi Female Prison. The sampling techniques used were the purposive, census and snowball. A total of 274 inmates were selected for the quantitative data while 12 inmates were selected for the qualitative data. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and interview guide. Both descriptive (frequencies; means and standard deviations) and inferential (independent samples t-test) statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data while the qualitative data were analysed using inductive approach. The study found a prevalence of 67.9% of drug abuse among inmates. Marijuana (wee) was the most abused drug by the inmates followed by cigarette. Inmates abused drugs to relieve boredom, cope with stress and most importantly to help them eat the „distasteful‟ and unbalanced diet given to them. Provision of drug education and the availability of counsellors were the strategies used to address drug abuse among the inmates. The study also discovered that male inmates abused drugs more than the females. The study recommended that education on drug abuse should be intensified in the various prisons by professionals, especially the male prisons to help them know and understand the impact drug abuse could have on their life. The study also included a tin the findings, implications of counselling.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijhs.v8n3a2