(Uganda Christian University, 2024-07-25) Brenda Ajwang
The study explored the impact of substance abuse on psychosocial well-being of the youths in Pamba Ward, Soroti City West. Despite the programs, interventions and the initiatives put by the government and World Health Organization to combat substance abuse, there was still a high knowledge gap on information on substance abuse which led to low psycho-social well-being of the youths in this area. The study found out that alcohol, marijuana, opium and tobacco stood to be the most commonly abused drugs and impacted the psychosocial well-being of the youth negatively physically, socially and emotionally. The study was conducted using interview guide and focus group discussions. The study recommended that issues related to psychosocial well-being of the youth should be given priority in the interventions by involving parents, local council leaders, community, schools and religious groups at the local level to support the psychosocial well-being of the youth in the area.