Student Drug Use 1998 Survey Findings

The latest results on drug use among Nova Scotian junior and senior high school students show that the percentage who do not use any drugs has remained stable since 1996, at 35 per cent. However, the prevalence of cannabis continues to increase at a significant rate.

The Nova Scotia Student Drug Use Survey 1998, released today, is the third time the Department of Health has collected provincial standardized data on the prevalence of drug use by youth. The last report was released in 1996, and an earlier, more restricted, survey was conducted in Nova Scotia in 1991.

The research was done in collaboration with Dalhousie University's department of community health and epidemiology, and in co-operation with the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture.

Some of the key findings of the survey include:

• the percentage of drug-free students remained stable
• the percentage of students who sniff inhalants has decreased by 27 per cent since 1991
• since 1991, there has been an upward trend in tobacco use, however, there was no significant increase in prevalence between 1996 and 1998
• since 1991, there has been a gradual upward trend in alcohol use, however, there was no significant increase in prevalence between 1996 and 1998
• since 1991, there has been a significant increase in cannabis use, and the 1998 survey indicates a continued significant increase
• since 1991, there has been a gradual upward trend in the use of all three drugs (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis)

"The high prevalence of multiple drug use -- alcohol, tobacco and cannabis -- is worrisome," said Dr. Christiane Poulin, the principal investigator and a professor in Dalhousie's department of community health and epidemiology. "That pattern of multiple drug use is known to be associated with the heaviest consumption, the greatest number of episodes of drunkenness, and the greatest number of alcohol-related problems."

"This data confirms the need for everyone to continue working together in developing initiatives, not only in our schools, but in our communities," said Jim Baker, community education co-ordinator for Drug Dependency Services at the Department of Health. "Meaningful involvement is needed from all sectors in our society, including family, school, health, community, law enforcement as well as adolescents themselves, if we want to address this issue effectively."

More than 3,500 Nova Scotia students from grades 7, 9, 10 and 12 were surveyed last spring.

The 1998 drug use survey was also conducted in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island as part of a project to gather comprehensive standardized data.