Student Drug Use 2002 Survey Findings

Fewer students are smoking and more young Nova Scotians are drug- free as a result, according to the latest research on drug use among Nova Scotia's junior and senior high school students. The 2002 Nova Scotia Drug Use Survey, released today, Nov. 19, shows that 13 per cent fewer students smoke cigarettes and, as a result, the number of students who do not use any drugs has increased to 40 per cent since 1998. Nov. 17-23 is Addiction Awareness Week.

"The decrease in cigarette smoking is excellent news," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "The results show us that in addition to fewer smokers, there is a significant number of students in our province who are not using drugs. We need to continue to support them in making healthy choices and at the same time provide more support services to those who may experiment or have problems."

Mr. Muir said the information from the survey helps to create better prevention, early intervention and treatment programs for young people and to provide direction to new and existing programs. The Department of Health recently announced $1.8 million to enhance community-based prevention and treatment programs for women and youth in rural areas, based in part on findings of past surveys.

The survey was done in collaboration with Dalhousie University's department of community health and epidemiology and in co- operation with the Department of Education and schools and students from across the province.

Some of the key findings of the survey include:

• a significant decrease in tobacco use since 1998, ending the upward trend reported four years ago;
• an increase in the percentage of students who haven't used drugs in the past year, to 40 per cent in 2002 from 35 per cent in 1998 -- a result of the significant decrease in tobacco use;
• a slight decrease in alcohol use since 1998, ending the gradual upward trend reported four years ago;
• the stabilization, since 1998, of the percentage of students using cannabis, ending the significant upward trend reported four years ago;
• a significant reduction since 1998 in multiple-drug use (alcohol, tobacco and cannabis), resulting from the significant drop in tobacco use; and
• the first measurement of the use of MDMA (Ecstacy), with 4 per cent of students reporting that they have used the drug at least once in the past year.

The decline in tobacco use is the result of a number of factors, including higher cigarette prices, smoke-free legislation, greater media awareness of the harm caused by smoking and greater support to adults and youth to quit smoking -- all components of Nova Scotia's tobacco strategy.

"The decrease in cigarette smoking is very significant," said Dr. Christiane Poulin, principal investigator and a professor in Dalhousie's department of community health and epidemiology. "However, the survey also shows that a fairly large percentage of teenagers is using substances in a manner that puts them at risk of harm -- including driving while impaired by alcohol or cannabis and unplanned sex. We need to help students reduce these high-risk behaviours."

The survey shows that 26 per cent of students reported driving within one hour after using cannabis. Of the 29 per cent of students who reported having had sexual intercourse in the past year, 35 per cent reported having unplanned sex while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Jeanette Tobin, program administration officer, prevention and community education, in the Department of Health's Addiction Services Division, says young people have a lot of misconceptions about alcohol and cannabis -- the two most commonly used drugs according to the survey.

"I talk to young people every day who believe that alcohol is not a drug and that cannabis is safe. By the time they realize how dangerous these drugs can be, they are often in treatment. Education is essential where alcohol and other drugs are concerned."

The 2002 survey marks the fourth time the Department of Health has collected provincial standardized data on the prevalence of drug use among students. Surveys were also conducted in 1998 and 1996, and an earlier, more restricted, survey was conducted in Nova Scotia in 1991. More than 4,300 Nova Scotia students participated from grades 7, 9, 10 and 12 last spring. Similar surveys were also carried out in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

The highlights report is available on the Department of Health Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/health/downloads/2002_NSDrugHighlights.pdf