Department of Health Studies & Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
Can J Public Health. 2011 Jan-Feb;102(1):7-12. doi: 10.1007/BF03404870.
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.
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).
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.
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.
青少年的物质使用与一系列即时和长期的健康风险有关。本研究旨在描述加拿大青少年非法药物使用的早期模式。
2002 年（n=11757）、2004 年（n=16705）、2006 年（n=27030）和 2008 年（n=24752），通过健康加拿大青少年吸烟调查（YSS）对 7 至 9 年级的学生进行了全国代表性调查。2008 年，还包括了 10-12 年级的学生（n=20673）。
2008 年，大约 21%的 7-9 年级学生报告在过去一年中至少每月饮酒一次，26%报告以前使用过烟草，17%报告尝试过大麻，而 13%报告尝试过其他物质，包括胶水、非医疗用途的处方药物、迷幻剂和安非他命。与 2006 年相比，2008 年报告曾经尝试过胶水的 7-9 年级学生人数明显减少，而报告曾经尝试过摇头丸和非医疗用途的处方药物的学生人数有所增加。与女性相比，男性在大多数但不是所有物质的使用方面都更有可能报告使用。
相当一部分 13 至 15 岁的加拿大青少年报告尝试过非法物质。这些发现提供了加拿大年轻人中物质使用的最全面的全国趋势。
