Survey finds pot use rate has doubled in 10 yrs

CTV.ca News Staff

According to the results of a new national survey, the number of Canadians who puff pot has doubled in the last decade.

Providing Canadians their most comprehensive picture of drug and alcohol use in 10 years, Health Canada and the Canadian Executive Council on Addictions released the "Canadian Addiction Survey" (CAS) on Wednesday.

According to the survey results, 14 per cent of respondents admitted using cannabis in the last year. That was up from 7.4 per cent in 1994.

Other key findings in the survey include:

Overall, 45 per cent of respondents said they had used pot at least once in their lifetime. Males with higher incomes and more education were the most likely to use cannabis.

The rates of marijuana use are highest among youth, with almost 30 per cent 15-17 year olds and close to 50 per cent of those aged 18 and 19 saying they had used the drug in the past year.

Of those who consumed alcohol in the past year, 17 per cent are considered high-risk drinkers. Drinkers in the high-risk category are predominantly males and those under the age of 25;
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse CEO Michel Perron says the rates of abuse among youth are alarming.

"The rise in cannabis use, especially among young Canadians, is of concern because we know
that cannabis is not a benign substance," he told a press conference in Ottawa Wednesday morning.

"There are a number of health risks associated with use and these risks increase with a lower age of initiation and more frequent use."

Canadian Executive Council on Addictions President John Borody is similarly concerned by the amount of alcohol consumed by young people.

"The increase in heavy drinking by young Canadians is of concern and awareness and prevention campaigns should be increasingly targeted at these groups," he said.

"These developments, when taken together, underscore the importance of the federal government's renewed investment in the drug strategy," Health Canada's Robert Hanson added.

To that end, he said work is already being done on a youth-targeted campaign to discourage alcohol and marijuana use that includes booklets and a website as its first phase.

"Further, Health Canada is consulting with its... partners on a proposed national framework for action on substance abuse," Hanson added.

Based on telephone interviews with at least 1,000 citizens in each of the provinces, the CAS is the first national survey dedicated to alcohol and other drug issues since 1994.

This report will now be followed by a series of Health Canada surveys conducted every three to five years. :D



I find it funny that they don't tell us that cocaine and heroin use has dropped over the last 10 years.. :confused:

its good news to me. more people should smoke. i see too many maniacs out there that are in serious need of chill out therapy :cool:

this is good news :D
~007~

Hey ineedskillz, I just heard that report on the news. Isn't this great to know that Canada is such a stoner country? Keep on tokin', Canada!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by F L E S H

Hey ineedskillz, I just heard that report on the news. Isn't this great to know that Canada is such a stoner country? Keep on tokin', Canada!

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Word up!

Nice pic intrepids

I think we should totally legalize it and oficially change our flag. :D