Drug Exposure in Ghanaian Schools: Survey Reveals Alarming Rates Among SHS and Tertiary Students

A recent and concerning survey commissioned by Ghana’s Ministry for Youth Development has unveiled a severe public health and educational challenge: widespread exposure to drug use among the nation’s students. The data indicates that over one-third of Senior High School (SHS) scholars and nearly half of all tertiary students have reported exposure to substance use. The figures are even more stark for students in Colleges of Education, where more than half report such exposure. Announced by Sector Minister George Opare-Addo during the “Show Your Love” Campaign in February 2026, these findings have prompted a strategic pivot from punitive measures to a integrated, mental health-focused approach by the government. This article provides a comprehensive, SEO-optimized analysis of the survey results, their implications for Ghana’s educational integrity, and the proposed framework for intervention.

Introduction: The Scale of the Challenge

The revelation that 37% of Ghana’s Senior High School students report exposure to drug use is not merely a statistic; it is a critical indicator of a systemic issue with profound implications for the nation’s future. This exposure, defined in the survey as awareness of, access to, or personal use of illicit substances, points to a penetration of the drug trade and culture into the very institutions tasked with nurturing the country’s youth. The data, collected in late 2025, shows a gradient of risk: 41% of university students and a staggering 54% of teacher trainees (Colleges of Education) are similarly affected. The highest concentration within the teaching pipeline is particularly alarming, suggesting a risk of normalizing substance use within the profession responsible for setting foundational examples for millions of Ghanaian children. This introduction frames the crisis, moving beyond the headline number to contextualize the threat to educational outcomes, public health, and social stability.

Key Points: Survey Findings and Government Response

The core of the report centers on quantifiable data and the immediate policy reaction. The following points summarize the essential takeaways from the Ministry’s survey and the subsequent announcement by Minister Opare-Addo.

Alarming Statistics Across Educational Levels

• Senior High School (SHS): 37% of students report exposure to drug use.
• Tertiary Institutions (Universities/Polytechnics): 41% of students report exposure.
• Colleges of Education (Teacher Training): 54% of trainees report exposure, the highest rate among all groups surveyed.

The “Show Your Love” Campaign Context

Minister Opare-Addo disclosed these findings during the launch of the Mental Health Authority’s “Show Your Love” Campaign on February 13, 2026. The campaign specifically targets reducing stigma around mental health and substance use, encouraging families to provide non-judgmental support. The minister’s personal reaction—stating the findings “scared all of us”—underscores the government’s assessment of the situation as a crisis demanding an urgent, multi-sectoral response.

Strategic Policy Pivot: From Punishment to Prevention

In direct response to the survey, the Ministry for Youth Development has announced a strategic reset. The new framework moves away from solely punitive disciplinary actions in schools towards a comprehensive support model. Key pillars include:

1. Integrating Mental Health Literacy: Embedding mental health education directly into youth employment and entrepreneurship programs, such as those under the National Service Scheme (NSS).
2. Strengthening Referral Pathways: Creating robust, formal links between community youth centers and clinical mental health facilities to ensure swift, professional intervention for at-risk students.
3. Formalizing Stakeholder Synergy: Establishing a structured partnership between the Mental Health Authority and the Ministry for Youth Development to monitor trends and coordinate early addiction intervention efforts.

The minister explicitly stated the goal: to collaborate with key stakeholders to integrate mental health literacy into programming and strengthen the support network within youth service placements.

Background: Ghana’s Educational Landscape and Substance Use

To understand the gravity of these numbers, one must contextualize them within Ghana’s broader educational and socio-economic framework. Ghana has made significant strides in expanding access to education, with policies like the Free SHS policy increasing enrollment. However, this expansion has coincided with evolving challenges, including the infiltration of global drug trends. Substance use among African youth is a documented concern, with substances like cannabis, tramadol, and methamphetamine (commonly called “akpeteshie” or “kush” locally) posing serious risks. Previous approaches often relied on school-based disciplinary committees and law enforcement raids. The new data suggests these measures have been insufficient against the scale of exposure, which now appears systemic rather than incidental. The “Show Your Love” Campaign itself represents a shift in national discourse, influenced by global public health best practices that emphasize harm reduction, destigmatization, and addressing underlying factors like mental health struggles, peer pressure, and socio-economic anxiety.

Analysis: Deconstructing the Data and Its Implications

The raw percentages demand deeper analysis. Why is exposure so high, and what does a 54% rate among future teachers truly signify?

The Teaching Profession at a Crossroads

The 54% exposure rate among Colleges of Education students is the most critical and alarming data point. This group is not just another cohort of young adults; they are the imminent future of Ghana’s classroom instruction. If a majority of these trainees have been exposed to drug use, the potential consequences are multi-layered:

• Normalization: Educators who have personal experience or familiarity with substances may, consciously or unconsciously, normalize drug-related behavior for their young pupils.
• Role Model Efficacy: The moral authority and health example expected of teachers are compromised, weakening a key protective factor for child and adolescent development.
• Systemic Risk: This creates a risk of a perpetuating cycle where exposed teachers are less equipped to identify, prevent, or address substance use among their own students.

This finding transforms the issue from a general youth health concern into a direct threat to the foundational quality and safety of the entire basic education system.

Punitive Measures vs. Supportive Frameworks

The government’s stated pivot is a recognition of the failure of a purely punitive model. Suspensions, expulsions, and police involvement do not address the root causes of exposure, which often include:

• Mental Health Gaps: Undiagnosed or untreated anxiety, depression, and trauma are major drivers of substance use as a form of self-medication.
• Socio-Economic Pressures: Poverty, family dysfunction, and lack of opportunity can increase vulnerability.
• Peer and Community Influence: Easy access within communities and peer networks.

A supportive framework, as proposed, aims to build resilience by equipping youth with mental health literacy (the ability to identify and manage emotional challenges), creating clear pathways to professional help, and embedding this awareness into practical life skills like entrepreneurship. This approach aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for adolescent health.

Interpreting “Exposure”: Beyond Personal Use

The survey term “exposed to drug use” is intentionally broad. It encompasses:

• Direct personal consumption.
• Knowledge of peers or family members who use substances.
• Being offered or having easy access to drugs.
• Awareness of drug dealing activities in their environment.

This breadth means the 37% figure for SHS students represents a vast pool of young people living within drug-affected ecosystems, even if they are not users themselves. This ambient exposure increases risk, normalizes the behavior, and creates chronic stress, all of which are detrimental to academic focus and healthy development.

Practical Advice: A Multi-Stakeholder Action Plan

Addressing this crisis requires coordinated action from parents, educational institutions, and the government. Based on the Ministry’s new roadmap, here is actionable guidance for each group.

For Parents and Guardians

The “Show Your Love” Campaign’s message is central: move from stigma to support.

• Open Communication: Initiate age-appropriate, non-judgmental conversations about drugs, mental health, and peer pressure. Listen more than you lecture.
• Know the Signs: Educate yourself on the signs of substance use and mental distress (withdrawal, personality changes, declining grades, loss of interest).
• Foster Connection: Build strong family bonds and monitor your child’s activities and friendships without being intrusive.
• Seek Help Early: If you suspect a problem, utilize the referral pathways being developed. Contact school counselors, community youth centers, or the Mental Health Authority directly. Do not wait for a crisis.

For Schools and Educational Administrators

• Integrate, Don’t Isolate: Advocate for and help design mental health literacy curricula that are woven into existing subjects and life skills programs, not treated as a separate, occasional seminar.
• Train Staff: Ensure all teachers and administrators receive training to identify signs of exposure, mental health struggles, and how to respond appropriately without punishment-first reflexes.
• Establish Clear Protocols: Work with the Ministry and Mental Health Authority to formalize in-school referral processes. Know exactly where and how to direct a student for professional help.
• Create Safe Spaces: Promote school clubs and activities that build resilience, self-esteem, and healthy peer networks, providing alternatives to drug-affected environments.

For Policymakers and implementers (Ministry, Mental Health Authority)

• Resource the Framework: The strategic reset requires funding. Budget allocations must support the hiring of school-based mental health professionals, the training of NSS personnel, and the strengthening of community mental health facilities.
• Data-Driven Iteration: The partnership must include continuous monitoring and evaluation. Track the exposure rates in the targeted groups (SHS, Colleges of Ed) annually to measure the impact of interventions.
• Public Awareness: Launch sustained media campaigns that destigmatize seeking help and educate the public on the difference between drug *use* and drug *exposure*, emphasizing that the latter requires community-wide intervention.
• Address Supply: While focusing on demand reduction and support, coordinate with security agencies to disrupt drug supply chains targeting schools and youth communities.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions on Student Drug Exposure

What does “exposed to drug use” actually mean in this survey?

In this context, “exposed” is a broad term. It includes students who have personally used drugs, those who have been offered drugs, those who know friends or family members who use, and those who are aware of drug activity in their school or community environment. It measures the prevalence of drug presence in the student’s ecosystem, not solely personal addiction.

Why is the rate so much higher (54%) in Colleges of Education compared to SHS (37%)?

Several factors likely contribute. College students are typically older (18+), have more autonomy, and may face different social pressures. Furthermore, the survey may reflect cumulative exposure—students who have navigated the SHS system and chose teacher training may represent a cohort with a longer history of exposure. Critically, this finding suggests that the pipeline for future educators is already significantly affected, necessitating immediate intervention within teacher training programs themselves.

How will integrating mental health literacy into NSS and entrepreneurship programs help?

This approach tackles the root cause. Many young people turn to substances to cope with stress, anxiety, or hopelessness about the future. By teaching mental health literacy—skills like emotional regulation, stress management, and recognizing when to seek help—within practical programs like entrepreneurship, the initiative builds resilience. It equ