International Journal of Education and Social Science (IJESS)

This study investigated common drugs of abuse and their perceived effects on prison inmates in the Ankaful Main Camp Prison and Sekondi Female Prison in the Central and Western Regions of Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method, (specifically, a concurrent triangulation design). 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. Marijuana (wee) was the most abused drug by the inmates followed by cigarette. The study also discovered that male inmates abused drugs more than the female inmates. The study recommended that drug education should be intensified in the various prisons. The study also included in the findings, implications of counselling.