title: Illicit substance use among Canadian youth: trends between 2002 and 2008.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies & Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON. dhammond@uwaterloo.ca
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Wiworn Sae
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brukhalter
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leatherdale
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control