Int J Drug Policy. 2025 Sep 5;145:104978. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104978. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Despite rising concerns about alcohol use in artisanal mining, a focused investigation into its psychosocial drivers and mental health implications within sub-Saharan Africa’s informal mining sector remains scarce. This study investigates the prevalence, motivations, and the association between alcohol use and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress) among artisanal miners in Ghana. Using community based cross-sectional survey data from 664 miners, alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, while symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression were measured via the GAD-7, PSS, and PHQ-9 instruments. The findings revealed that 4 out of 5 miners (79.8 %) reported consuming alcohol within the past month. Among them, 38.1 % were classified as hazardous drinkers, while 16.4 % met criteria for binge drinking. Motivations for alcohol use included coping with harsh working conditions, easy access and affordability, social bonding, and peer influence, particularly among younger miners. Younger miners aged 18-35 years were significantly more likely than their older counterparts (>35 years) to report peer pressure (33.3 % vs. 11.8 %; χ² = 24.48, p < .001, V = 0.192), stress and fatigue management (56.1 % vs. 35.3 %; χ² = 18.68, p < .001, V = 0.168), and pain relief (22.7 % vs. 11.8 %; χ² = 7.98, p = .005, V = 0.110) as key reasons for drinking. Multivariable regression analyses showed that alcohol use was significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety (B = 0.84, 95 % CI [.60, 1.08]), stress (B = 0.14, 95 % CI [.02, 0.26]) and depression (B = 0.28, 95 % CI [.11, 0.45]). However, the link between alcohol and stress was significant only among the older group. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted, age-responsive public health interventions that integrate substance use prevention with mental health services, particularly within informal and high-risk labor environments such as artisanal mining.
PMID:40913897 | DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104978
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