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Illicit Substance Use Among Canadian Youth: Trends Between 2002 and 2008

  • Quantitative Research
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Abstract

Background

Substance use among youth is associated with a range of immediate and long-term health risks. The current study sought to characterize early patterns of illicit drug use among Canadian youth.

Methods

Nationally representative surveys were conducted in 2002 (n=11,757), 2004 (n=16,705), 2006 (n=27,030), and 2008 (n=24,752) with students in grades 7 to 9 as part of Health Canada’s Youth Smoking Survey (YSS). In 2008, students in grades 10–12 were also included in the survey (n=20,673).

Results

In 2008, approximately 21% of youth in grades 7–9 reported drinking at least once a month in the past year, 26% reported previous tobacco use, 17% reported trying cannabis, while 13% reported trying another substance, including glue, non-medical use of prescription drugs, hallucinogens, and amphetamines. Compared to 2006, the number of youth in grades 7–9 who reported ever trying glue decreased significantly in 2008, whereas those who reported ever trying MDMA and non-medical use of prescription drugs had increased. Males were significantly more likely to report use for most but not all substances across survey years.

Conclusions

A considerable portion of Canadians aged 13 to 15 reported experimenting with illegal substances. The findings provide the most comprehensive national trends in substance use among young Canadians.

Résumé

Contexte

L’usage de substances chez les jeunes est lié à un éventail de risques immédiats et à long terme pour la santé. Cette étude a pour objectif de caractériser les trajectoires précoces de consommation de drogues illicites chez les jeunes Canadiens.

Méthode

Des sondages auprès d’échantillons nationaux représentatifs ont été menés en 2002 (n=11 757), 2004 (n=16 705), 2006 (n=27 030) et 2008 (n=24 752) auprès d’élèves de la 7e à la 9e année dans le cadre de l’Enquête sur le tabagisme chez les jeunes de Santé Canada. En 2008, des élèves de la 10e à la 12e année ont été inclus dans l’enquête (n=20 673).

Résultats

En 2008, environ 21 % des jeunes de la 7e à la 9e année ont déclaré avoir bu de l’alcool au moins une fois par mois au cours de la dernière année, 26 % ont fait usage de produits du tabac, 17 % ont essayé du cannabis, tandis que 13 % ont déclaré avoir fait l’essai d’une autre substance (colle, médicaments prescrits à des fins non thérapeutiques, hallucinogènes, amphétamines). Comparativement à 2006, le nombre de jeunes de la 7e à la 9e année qui avaient déjà essayé la colle a décliné de façon significative en 2008, tandis que la consommation de médicaments prescrits à des fins non thérapeutiques a augmenté. Les garçons étaient significativement plus nombreux à déclarer avoir consommé la plupart de ces substances, mais pas toutes, au cours des années d’enquêtes.

Conclusions

Une proportion considérable de jeunes Canadiens âgés de 13 à 15 ans a déclaré avoir fait l’expérience de substances illicites. Ces résultats représentent la description la plus complète des tendances nationales en ce qui a trait à l’usage de substances chez les jeunes Canadiens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Studies & Gerontology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    David Hammond PhD & Wiworn Sae Yang BSc

  2. Department of Statistics & Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Rashid Ahmed MSc

  3. Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Robin Brukhalter MMath

  4. Cancer Care Ontario, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Scott Leatherdale PhD

Authors
  1. David Hammond PhD
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  2. Rashid Ahmed MSc
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  3. Wiworn Sae Yang BSc
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  4. Robin Brukhalter MMath
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  5. Scott Leatherdale PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Hammond PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The 2006–2007 Youth Smoking Survey is a product of a pan-Canadian capacity-building project that includes Canadian tobacco control researchers from all provinces and provides training opportunities for university students at all levels. Production of this paper has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. This work was also supported by the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact and the Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement Program at the University of Waterloo. Dr. Leatherdale is a Cancer Care Ontario Research Chair in Population Studies.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Hammond, D., Ahmed, R., Yang, W.S. et al. Illicit Substance Use Among Canadian Youth: Trends Between 2002 and 2008. Can J Public Health 102, 7–12 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404870

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404870

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