Exploring School Counsellors Role in Substance Abuse Intervention amongst Adolescents in Secondary Schools: The Case of Seychelles

Substance abuse (drug abuse) is a prevalent problem and a call for concern in Seychelles today. Adolescents and children in drug use families often tend to believe its normal and therefore are prone to use drugs due to this fallacy. While in school such adolescents can influence other students to abuse drugs. Although, the reasons for abusing drugs may differ among adolescents in schools, generally substance abuse has negative effects (academic/career disruption, personal/social issues, emotional and physical health) on the development of adolescents. In tacit recognition of the social and health risk of substance abuse on adolescents, school counsellors have a crucial role to play in the life of students facing substance abuse. This paper addresses the problem of substance abuse amongst adolescents in secondary schools by exploring the role of school counsellors in assisting and intervening with students that abuse substances. The article also identifies potential challenges that school counsellors can face in the intervention process and proposes recommendations as to ways in which school counsellors in Seychelles can effectively intervene, support and contribute to curbing the growing rate of substance abuse among adolescents in secondary schools so as to improve the wellbeing and health of student populations in the Country.