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Marijuana use on the rise among Ontario adults, CAMH reports
April 15, 2008Despite positive substance use trends, tobacco and alcohol still have high costs to society
While this CAMH Monitor eReport reveals some promising substance use trends among Ontario adults, its revelation of a substantial increase in cannabis use raises a significant public health flag.
First the more positive news. Past year smoking rates are the lowest on record, significantly declining from 28 percent in 1996 to 20 percent in 2005. Rates of drinking and driving have steadily declined from 13 percent in 1996 to just 6 percent in 2005 (the lowest on record).
These trends are hopeful, explains Dr. Jürgen Rehm, senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and one of the study's lead investigators, but he cautions against being overly optimistic about the data. "While we are making progress, we should not forget that the prior levels of substance use in Canada were high, and we're still a long way from what is usually considered a healthy lifestyle. Also, substance use, mainly tobacco and alcohol use, still costs Canada almost $9 billion in health care costs alone each year."
The report also shows a marked increase in cannabis use. Past year use of cannabis among Ontario adults has almost doubled since 1977, from 8 percent to 14 percent in 2005. The most salient change showed an aging of cannabis users. On average, cannabis users in 2005 were 31 years old compared to their 26-year-old counterparts in 1977. Dr. Rehm explains, however, that use is generally infrequent (less than once a month), and only 2 percent report hazardous levels of use. These data point to the need for prevention and therapy with respect to reducing the number of hazardous users and people being dependent on cannabis. Especially, the transition from infrequent or experimental use to problematic levels of use should be prevented.
Other survey data reveals that:
* The proportion of adults exceeding the recommended low-risk drinking guidelines increased between 2003 and 2005, from 21 percent to 25 percent, and
* Rates of weekly binge drinking among men and among young adults still remain at elevated levels.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
These trends are hopeful, explains Dr. Jürgen Rehm, senior scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and one of the study's lead investigators, but he cautions against being overly optimistic about the data. "While we are making progress, we should not forget that the prior levels of substance use in Canada were high, and we're still a long way from what is usually considered a healthy lifestyle. Also, substance use, mainly tobacco and alcohol use, still costs Canada almost $9 billion in health care costs alone each year."
The report also shows a marked increase in cannabis use. Past year use of cannabis among Ontario adults has almost doubled since 1977, from 8 percent to 14 percent in 2005. The most salient change showed an aging of cannabis users. On average, cannabis users in 2005 were 31 years old compared to their 26-year-old counterparts in 1977. Dr. Rehm explains, however, that use is generally infrequent (less than once a month), and only 2 percent report hazardous levels of use. These data point to the need for prevention and therapy with respect to reducing the number of hazardous users and people being dependent on cannabis. Especially, the transition from infrequent or experimental use to problematic levels of use should be prevented.
Other survey data reveals that:
* The proportion of adults exceeding the recommended low-risk drinking guidelines increased between 2003 and 2005, from 21 percent to 25 percent, and
* Rates of weekly binge drinking among men and among young adults still remain at elevated levels.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Substance Use News and Current Substance Use Events RSSAPA task force recommends dissemination of evidence-based practice
An estimated 15 million American children are diagnosed with a mental disorder, but only about a quarter of them are getting appropriate treatment based on scientific evidence.
Post-partum suicide attempt risks studied
Although maternal suicide after giving birth is a relatively rare occurrence, suicide attempts often have long-lasting effects on the family and the infant. In a study published in the August 2008 issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers compared two populations of mothers and found that a history of psychiatric disorders or substance abuse was a strong predictor of post-partum suicide attempts.
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Energy Drinks Linked to Risk-Taking Behaviors Among College Students
Over the last decade, energy drinks -- such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar -- have become nearly ubiquitous on college campuses. The global market for these types of drinks currently exceeds $3 billion a year and new products are introduced annually.
Pregnancy alone is not associated with increased risk for mental disorders
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Scientifically valid prevention programs cut rates of juvenile delinquency
Seventh-grade students in U.S. communities that have set up scientifically validated programs to reduce juvenile delinquency have a significantly smaller chance of engaging such behavior than do children in towns that have not adopted such programs.
1 in 8 Lower Manhattan residents had signs of PTSD 2 to 3 years after 9-11
For many residents of Lower Manhattan, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, had lasting psychological consequences. New findings, released today by the Health Department's World Trade Center Health Registry, show that one in eight Lower Manhattan residents likely had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) two to three years after the attacks.
Insomnia in parents can result in sleep problems, suicidal behavior among their offspring
A history of chronic insomnia in parents is not only associated with elevated risk for insomnia but also with elevated risks for use of hypnotics, psychopathology and suicidal behavior in adolescent offspring, according to a research abstract that will be presented on Thursday at SLEEP 2008, the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).
Report confirms increased risk of smoking, substance abuse in bipolar adolescents
A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) supports previous reports that adolescents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for smoking and substance abuse.
Middle class relaxing with marijuana
A variety of middle-class people are making a conscious but careful choice to use marijuana to enhance their leisure activities, a University of Alberta study shows.
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