Abstract

Adolescent substance abuse has become a significant public health and socio developmental issue in Zimbabwe, mirroring broader regional trends in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescence represents a critical developmental stage characterized by neuropsychological vulnerability, identity formation, and increased susceptibility to peer and environmental influences. In Zimbabwe, these vulnerabilities are exacerbated by structural conditions, including persistent poverty, high youth unemployment, family disruption, parental migration, and limited access to adolescent-friendly psychosocial services. This study systematically synthesizes recent empirical literature to investigate the psychological, social, and structural determinants of adolescent substance use in Zimbabwe and similar Sub-Saharan African contexts. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, analysing peer-reviewed studies published between 2018 and 2025 from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Thematic synthesis was employed to identify recurring risk patterns and multilevel determinants across the included studies. The findings reveal that adolescent substance abuse is driven by interacting socioecological factors, including economic marginalization, weak family supervision, peer normalization of drug use, mental health distress, and increased availability of illicit substances. The rapid proliferation of crystal methamphetamine (mutoriro) highlights evolving regional drug market dynamics that intensify youth exposure to highly addictive stimulants. Evidence consistently indicates that adolescent substance use cannot be explained solely by individual behaviour but must be understood within broader structural and community systems. This study proposes an integrated conceptual framework linking structural pressures, psychosocial vulnerability, and social learning mechanisms. Policy implications emphasize multilevel interventions encompassing family strengthening, school-based prevention, community engagement, expanded mental health services, and coordinated supply- and demand-side regulatory responses.