Peer Influence and Adolescent Substance Use: A Qualitative Study Among Senior High School Students in Accra

Abstract

Adolescent drug use represents a significant public health concern. Peer relationships substantially influence drug use initiation and maintenance. This research investigates the connection between peer dynamics and substance use among secondary school students in Accra, with particular attention to substance types, vulnerability factors, and students' management strategies. The research design followed qualitative phenomenological principles, gathering data through in-depth interviews with twenty students (8 males and 12 females) between fourteen and nineteen years old from a pair of senior secondary institutions. Participant selection followed purposive and snowball sampling methods. Thematic analysis identified patterns in substance use behaviours, peer influence, and coping mechanisms. Findings revealed widespread drug use among students. Cannabis-infused confectioneries (weed toffees), energy drinks, alcohol (Panache), and tramadol emerged as commonly abused substances. Peer pressure constitutes a significant factor, with students using drugs to gain acceptance within social groups. Some of the participants endeavour to withstand negative influences by seeking guidance from counsellors or deliberately avoiding classmates known for substance use; nevertheless, many find such resistance challenging within the complex social hierarchies that characterise secondary education environments. The evidence from this study points toward an urgent need for educational interventions that simultaneously target personal decision-making and the wider social ecosystem surrounding adolescents. Academic institutions should develop student-led awareness initiatives, enhance psychological support frameworks, and institute more rigorous substance regulations. Broader community participation proves indispensable in curtailing youth substance misuse and mitigating its enduring impacts on development and well-being.