NCJ Number
150841
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: 1990 Pages: 3-5
Editor(s)
F. J. Porporino,
C. Tellier
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
In 1989, Health and Welfare Canada conducted a telephone survey with over 8,189 Canadians, aged 15 and over, regarding their use of alcohol and other drugs.
Abstract
The results showed that approximately 78 percent of the respondents had consumed an alcoholic beverage within the past 12 months, a decrease of 4 percent since the 1978-1979 survey. While those classified as current drinkers were consuming less per week, according to this survey, there was a heavier consumption by a small proportion of current drinkers. In general, there was an inverse relationship between age and alcohol consumption. During the 12 months prior to the survey, almost 20 percent of current drinkers drove after having consumed two or more drinks. Marijuana was the most commonly used illicit drug, with 23 percent of the sample reporting use at some point. Over 3 percent of respondents had used cocaine or crack at least once. For each category of illicit drugs, the number of former users greatly exceeded the number of current users. Small percentages of respondents reported using licit drugs in the previous 12 months, including tranquilizers, prescription narcotics, and sleeping pills. The majority of respondents favored increased prevention and treatment activity, as well as stricter drug law enforcement. Between 1980 and 1985, there was a decrease in the number of criminal charges related to marijuana, and an increase in charges for cocaine-related offenses. 2 figures