Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana

Iddrisu Bariham; Kuubetersuur Vida; Edward Bonnituo Kankpog

doi:doi:10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana

Iddrisu Bariham^*

, Kuubetersuur Vida, Edward Bonnituo Kankpog

Published in Education Journal (Volume 14, Issue 6)

Received: 23 September 2025 Accepted: 4 October 2025 Published: 24 December 2025

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Abstract

Tramadol misuse has emerged as a critical social and public health conundrum among adolescents in Ghana, with limited evidence on its prevalence and psychosocial implications at the Junior High School (JHS) level. This cross-sectional survey was therefore conducted in JHS across 16 circuits in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Structured Questionnaire (SQ) was employed to collect the data from 60 students randomly sampled for the research. The internal consistencies of the items in the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded α=.81 which was acceptable for the research. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine the prevalence, predictors, and the impact of tramadol abuse on psychosocial outcomes such as behavior, mood, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety. The findings revealed that 43.3% of respondents reported tramadol use, with varying frequencies from occasional to daily. Logistic regression identified age (p < 0.01) and grade (p < 0.05) as significant predictors of tramadol use. Chi-square tests discovered a significant correlation between tramadol use and interpersonal relationship changes (p < 0.001) as well as increased anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Similarly, the MANOVA results demonstrated that tramadol uses significantly affects behaviour, mood, relationship dynamics, and anxiety level of users (Wilks’ λ = 0.3855, p < 0.001). Based on these findings, it has been recommended that the GES support school-based intervention programmes that incorporates drug education into the school curriculum for awareness creation, family-centered intervention that empower parents with knowledge and skills to monitor their children and communicate effectively to them about tramadol consumption risks, strengthening drug regulations by law enforcement agencies to cut the supply of tramadol drugs, and provision of counselling, psychosocial support and rehabilitation to tramadol drug addicts.

Published in	Education Journal (Volume 14, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
Page(s)	290-302
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adolescents, Junior High School Students, Psychosocial Outcomes, Tramadol Misuse, Substance Abuse Prevention

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APA Style

Bariham, I., Vida, K., Kankpog, E. B. (2025). Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Education Journal, 14(6), 290-302. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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Bariham, I.; Vida, K.; Kankpog, E. B. Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Educ. J. 2025, 14(6), 290-302. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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AMA Style

Bariham I, Vida K, Kankpog EB. Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Educ J. 2025;14(6):290-302. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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@article{10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14,
  author = {Iddrisu Bariham and Kuubetersuur Vida and Edward Bonnituo Kankpog},
  title = {Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana},
  journal = {Education Journal},
  volume = {14},
  number = {6},
  pages = {290-302},
  doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20251406.14},
  abstract = {Tramadol misuse has emerged as a critical social and public health conundrum among adolescents in Ghana, with limited evidence on its prevalence and psychosocial implications at the Junior High School (JHS) level. This cross-sectional survey was therefore conducted in JHS across 16 circuits in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Structured Questionnaire (SQ) was employed to collect the data from 60 students randomly sampled for the research. The internal consistencies of the items in the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded α=.81 which was acceptable for the research. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine the prevalence, predictors, and the impact of tramadol abuse on psychosocial outcomes such as behavior, mood, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety. The findings revealed that 43.3% of respondents reported tramadol use, with varying frequencies from occasional to daily. Logistic regression identified age (p p p p p < 0.001). Based on these findings, it has been recommended that the GES support school-based intervention programmes that incorporates drug education into the school curriculum for awareness creation, family-centered intervention that empower parents with knowledge and skills to monitor their children and communicate effectively to them about tramadol consumption risks, strengthening drug regulations by law enforcement agencies to cut the supply of tramadol drugs, and provision of counselling, psychosocial support and rehabilitation to tramadol drug addicts.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana
AU  - Iddrisu Bariham
AU  - Kuubetersuur Vida
AU  - Edward Bonnituo Kankpog
Y1  - 2025/12/24
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
T2  - Education Journal
JF  - Education Journal
JO  - Education Journal
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EP  - 302
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2619
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AB  - Tramadol misuse has emerged as a critical social and public health conundrum among adolescents in Ghana, with limited evidence on its prevalence and psychosocial implications at the Junior High School (JHS) level. This cross-sectional survey was therefore conducted in JHS across 16 circuits in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Structured Questionnaire (SQ) was employed to collect the data from 60 students randomly sampled for the research. The internal consistencies of the items in the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded α=.81 which was acceptable for the research. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine the prevalence, predictors, and the impact of tramadol abuse on psychosocial outcomes such as behavior, mood, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety. The findings revealed that 43.3% of respondents reported tramadol use, with varying frequencies from occasional to daily. Logistic regression identified age (p p p p p < 0.001). Based on these findings, it has been recommended that the GES support school-based intervention programmes that incorporates drug education into the school curriculum for awareness creation, family-centered intervention that empower parents with knowledge and skills to monitor their children and communicate effectively to them about tramadol consumption risks, strengthening drug regulations by law enforcement agencies to cut the supply of tramadol drugs, and provision of counselling, psychosocial support and rehabilitation to tramadol drug addicts.
VL  - 14
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Author Information

Iddrisu Bariham

Department of Humanities and Social Sciences Education, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5027-7003
Kuubetersuur Vida

MPhil. Guidance and Counselling Graduate, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Contact Email
Edward Bonnituo Kankpog

Department of Educational Foundations, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-0597-2692

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APA Style

Bariham, I., Vida, K., Kankpog, E. B. (2025). Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Education Journal, 14(6), 290-302. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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ACS Style

Bariham, I.; Vida, K.; Kankpog, E. B. Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Educ. J. 2025, 14(6), 290-302. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

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AMA Style

Bariham I, Vida K, Kankpog EB. Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana. Educ J. 2025;14(6):290-302. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14,
  author = {Iddrisu Bariham and Kuubetersuur Vida and Edward Bonnituo Kankpog},
  title = {Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana},
  journal = {Education Journal},
  volume = {14},
  number = {6},
  pages = {290-302},
  doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20251406.14},
  abstract = {Tramadol misuse has emerged as a critical social and public health conundrum among adolescents in Ghana, with limited evidence on its prevalence and psychosocial implications at the Junior High School (JHS) level. This cross-sectional survey was therefore conducted in JHS across 16 circuits in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Structured Questionnaire (SQ) was employed to collect the data from 60 students randomly sampled for the research. The internal consistencies of the items in the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded α=.81 which was acceptable for the research. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine the prevalence, predictors, and the impact of tramadol abuse on psychosocial outcomes such as behavior, mood, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety. The findings revealed that 43.3% of respondents reported tramadol use, with varying frequencies from occasional to daily. Logistic regression identified age (p p p p p < 0.001). Based on these findings, it has been recommended that the GES support school-based intervention programmes that incorporates drug education into the school curriculum for awareness creation, family-centered intervention that empower parents with knowledge and skills to monitor their children and communicate effectively to them about tramadol consumption risks, strengthening drug regulations by law enforcement agencies to cut the supply of tramadol drugs, and provision of counselling, psychosocial support and rehabilitation to tramadol drug addicts.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Exploring the Nexus Between Tramadol Abuse and Psychosocial Well-being of Students: Evidence from Junior High Schools in Ghana
AU  - Iddrisu Bariham
AU  - Kuubetersuur Vida
AU  - Edward Bonnituo Kankpog
Y1  - 2025/12/24
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
DO  - 10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
T2  - Education Journal
JF  - Education Journal
JO  - Education Journal
SP  - 290
EP  - 302
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2327-2619
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20251406.14
AB  - Tramadol misuse has emerged as a critical social and public health conundrum among adolescents in Ghana, with limited evidence on its prevalence and psychosocial implications at the Junior High School (JHS) level. This cross-sectional survey was therefore conducted in JHS across 16 circuits in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Structured Questionnaire (SQ) was employed to collect the data from 60 students randomly sampled for the research. The internal consistencies of the items in the questionnaires was tested using Cronbach Alpha formula which yielded α=.81 which was acceptable for the research. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics such as chi-square tests, logistic regression analysis, and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine the prevalence, predictors, and the impact of tramadol abuse on psychosocial outcomes such as behavior, mood, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety. The findings revealed that 43.3% of respondents reported tramadol use, with varying frequencies from occasional to daily. Logistic regression identified age (p p p p p < 0.001). Based on these findings, it has been recommended that the GES support school-based intervention programmes that incorporates drug education into the school curriculum for awareness creation, family-centered intervention that empower parents with knowledge and skills to monitor their children and communicate effectively to them about tramadol consumption risks, strengthening drug regulations by law enforcement agencies to cut the supply of tramadol drugs, and provision of counselling, psychosocial support and rehabilitation to tramadol drug addicts.
VL  - 14
IS  - 6
ER  -

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