Drug misuse in Canada has increased in the past decade

Self reported rates of use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs have increased in Canada in the past decade, says a new national population survey report.

Alcohol and cannabis continue to be the most commonly used drugs, says the Canadian addiction survey, the first major survey in a decade on the use of alcohol and other drugs among Canadians aged 15 and older. Canada's first national survey of licit and illicit drug use by Canadians (the alcohol and other drugs survey) was done in 1994.

A total of 13 909 Canadians from across the country took part in telephone interviews for the latest study between December 2003 and April 2004. It focused on the impact that alcohol and drug use has on physical, mental, and social wellbeing.

Overall, 45% of Canadians reported using cannabis at least once during their lifetime. Fourteen per cent of Canadians reported using cannabis in the past year, nearly double the rate reported in 1994 (7%). Of these, almost 46% had not used cannabis or had used it only once or twice in the three months preceding the interview. However, 18% of users in the past year reported daily use.

Reported rates in youths show that almost 30% of 15-17 year olds and more than 47% of 18-19 year olds said they had used cannabis in the past year. Almost 70% of survey participants between ages 18 and 24 reported having used cannabis at least once. The prevalence of lifetime use of cannabis increases with education and income, the study found. Also, people who had never been married were more likely to use cannabis.

“The rise in cannabis use, especially among young Canadians, is of concern because we know that cannabis is not a benign substance,” said Michel Perron, chief executive officer of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. “There are a number of health risks associated with use.”