OSDUS Press Conference November 18, 2003 - Speaking Notes: Dr. Edward Adlaf

Good morning everyone.

We are here today to present findings from the 2003 Ontario Student Drug Use Survey. OSDUS, which has been conducted every two years since 1977, is the longest ongoing school survey in Canada.

Before I turn to the findings, let me briefly describe some features of the survey

In the spring of 2003, about 6,600 students from 37 school boards and 126 schools participated in the survey. The study, which is province-wide, surveys students in grade 7 through 12. This sample represents almost one million Ontario students. The questionnaire is completed anonymously by students in their classrooms. Unless noted otherwise, all percentages refer to the percentage of students who report the use of a drug during the 12 months before the survey.

Now let me turn to the major results.

To begin, three findings are particularly evident.

First, the findings show that the escalating trend in adolescent drug use that we have been following since the early 1990s has subsided, and there is some evidence of downward movement.

Second, by far, the most notable and important change shows continuing declines in the use of cigarettes
and LSD.

Third, the 2003 survey is the first to show a decline in the use of ecstasy.

Despite the downward movement in drug use, it is important to note that current rates generally exceed those found in the early 1990s.

For example, the use of several drugs is higher in 2003 than in 1993. Some of the more notable differences include:

Alcohol 63% vs. 54%
Binge drinking 25% vs. 15%
Cannabis 28% vs. 12%
Hallucinogens 10% vs. 3%
Ecstasy (MDMA) 4% vs. 1%

As is typically the case, our findings convey both good and bad news. Let me begin with some of the encouraging findings:

The majority of students do not smoke cigarettes and our 2003 estimate is the lowest on record since 1977, when the study began. Cigarette smoking declined from 28% in 1999 to 19% in 2003. Declines were also found for both males and females, 8th- through 11th-graders, and most regions. As well, this downward trend in smoking has also been noted among US students.
The 2003 OSDUS is the second survey to show declines in illicit drug use excluding cannabis. The percentage of students reporting the use of an illicit drug other than cannabis declined from 21% in 2001 to 15% in 2003. The decline also occurred among both males and females, and most grade levels. This downward movement in illicit drug use has also been evident in the U.S.
Student use of LSD continues on the downward trend that started in 1995. Since then the use of LSD has dropped from 9.5% to it current rate of 2.9%. Moreover, the 2003 rate is the lowest rate ever posted. This decline was also evident among males and females, all grades except Grade 7, and all regions except Toronto. Declines in the use of LSD have also been found among US students.
The 2003 OSDUS is the first to post a decline in ecstasy use, which dropped from 6.0% in 2001 to 4.1% in 2003. This decline occurred among males, and 8th- and 9th-graders. Although encouraging, it is important to note that current rates of ecstasy use remain equal to or higher than rates found in 1999 and earlier. Again, there has been some downward movement in the use of ecstasy among American students.
There is no indication that more students today are using alcohol or tobacco at an early age. This finding is important because there is a strong link between early drug use and future problems. As well, there is no recent increase in new users of tobacco, alcohol or cannabis.
Most students do not use illicit drugs. Two-thirds of students have not used an illicit drug in the past year. Further, the majority of drug users report infrequent use - once or twice in the past year --- consequently, most do not experience drug-related harms.

However, about 1 in 5 students (18%) report behaviours and consequences, --- such as riding with an intoxicated driver or using drugs to feel better about oneself --- that put them at risk for drug-related problems

And, about 5% report more serious consequences, such as getting into trouble with the law or having family problems.

And, about 1% report having received treatment for alcohol or drugs, a percentage the represents about 13,000 students. Never forget that small percentages from large populations represent a large number of students. A few findings, however, raise some public health flags

Although student smoking declined, almost one-quarter --- some 200,000 students --- still smoke. Recent targets established by health officials recommend that adolescent smoking should not exceed 10% by the year 2005. Our OSDUS data show that 14% of grade 7 to grade 12 students smoke daily. Thus, we are making progress, but there is still work to do.While rates of alcohol use have not increased, binge drinking and drunkenness still remain at an elevated level among all students compared to a decade ago.
In 2003, 24% of all students reported consuming 5+ drinks on a single occasion during the last 4 weeks. This percentage has been trending upward since, when only 15% of students reported this pattern of drinking.
There are indications that cocaine, and to a lesser extent, crack, are moving upward. Use of cocaine increased from 3 per cent in 1999 to 5 per cent in 2003. Moreover, cocaine use has been increasing since 1993, when only 1.5% of students reported its use.Unlike other illicit drugs, cocaine use has not levelled off during the early 2000s.
Despite long-term declines in drinking and driving, there are still one-in-seven (14%) drivers who drink and drive.Moreover, about one-third of students report being a passenger with a driver who had been drinking and one in five students report driving after using cannabis. These rates are important because it is well-known that these behaviours increase the risk of unintentional injuries - a leading cause of death among youth.
Perceptions about the risks of using cannabis, cocaine, and LSD have been weakening during the past decade, while reported availability of many drugs is increasing. Further, fewer students today disapprove of drug use compared to students a decade ago. These indicators frequently signal future changes in rates of drug use.