Illicit Drug Use

Figure A.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used cannabis (including one-time use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Cannabis drug use in lifetime, including one-time use.

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure A

In 2011 & 2012, 47.5% (42.7- 52.3) of residents aged 18 and over in the KFL&A area have used cannabis at least once in their lifetime, including those who have only used cannabis one-time. In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Figure B.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used cannabis (excluding one-time use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Cannabis drug use in lifetime, excluding one-time use

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure B

In 2011 & 2012, 35.6% (30.6- 40.9) of residents aged 18 and over in the KFL&A area have used cannabis more than once in their lifetime. In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Figure C. Adults, 18+, who have ever used cannabis (excluding one-time use) by urban and rural status in KFL&A and Ontario, 2011 & 2012

Caption:  Cannabis drug use in the previous 12 months by urban and rural status, excluding one-time use

Summary:  The first column provides the urban and rural status. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure C

In KFL&A, there was a higher proportion of cannabis users in urban than rural areas.

Figure D. Adults, 18+, who have ever used cannabis (excluding one-time use) by income group in KFL&A and Ontario, 2011 & 2012

Caption:  Cannabis drug use in the previous 12 months by income group, excluding one-time use

Summary:  The first column provides the income group. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure D

In Ontario, the proportion of cannabis users increases as income increases.

Notes on the income grouping

The income variable was based on a derived income variable from the CCHS.  This variable provided a distribution of respondents in deciles based on the adjusted ratio of their total household income to the low income cut-off corresponding to their household and community size.  It provides, for each respondent, a relative measure of their household income to the household incomes of all other respondents.  The income variables used in this report were determined as follows: the lowest 3 deciles of the derived variable from CCHS were categorized into 'Lower Income', the middle 4 deciles were categorized into 'Middle Income' and the highest 3 deciles were categorized into 'Higher Income'.

Figure E.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used cannabis in the previous 12 months (excluding one-time use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Cannabis drug use in the previous 12 months, excluding one-time use

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure E

In 2011 & 2012, 12.2% (8.9-16.4) of residents aged 18 and over in the KFL&A area have used cannabis more than once in the previous 12 months. In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Figure F.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used any illicit drug (including one-time cannabis use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Any illicit drug use in lifetime, including one-time use of cannabis

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure F:

In 2011 & 2012, 48.2% (43.4-53.1) of residents aged 18 and over in the KFL&A area have used an illicit drug in their lifetime, including those who have only used cannabis only once. In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Illicit drugs - have ever used in lifetime, excluding one-time cannabis use

Figure G.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used any illicit drug (excluding one-time cannabis use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Any illicit drug use in lifetime, excluding one-time use of cannabis

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure G

In 2011 & 2012, 36.7% (31.6-32.1) of residents aged 18 and over KFL&A have ever used an illicit drug in their lifetime (excluding those who have used cannabis only once). In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Illicit drugs - use in previous 12 months, including one-time cannabis use

Figure H.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used any illicit drug in the previous 12 months (including one-time cannabis use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Any illicit drug use in previous 12 months, including one-time use of cannabis

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure H

In 2011 & 2012, 14.2% (10.5-19.0) of residents aged 18 and over in KFL&A have used an illicit drug at least once in the previous 12 months (including those who have used cannabis only once). In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Illicit drugs - use in previous 12 months, excluding one-time cannabis use

Figure I.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used any illicit drug in the previous 12 months (excluding one-time cannabis use) in KFL&A and Ontario

Caption:  Any illicit drug use in previous 12 months, excluding one-time use of cannabis

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

Interpretation for Figure I

In 2011 & 2012, 12.7% (9.4-16.9) of residents aged 18 and over in KFL&A have used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months, excluding those who have used cannabis only once. In 2011 & 2012, there were no significant differences between KFL&A and Ontario.

Illicit drugs - use in previous 12 months, excluding one-time cannabis use, by urban and rural status

Figure J. Adults, 18+, who have used any illicit drug in the previous 12 months (excluding one-time cannabis use) by urban and rural status in KFL&A and Ontario, 2011 & 2012

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Caption:  Illicit drug use in the previous 12 months by urban and rural status, excluding one-time cannabis use

Summary:  The first column provides the urban and rural status. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure J:

There were no differences seen in illicit drug use by urban and rural status.

Figure K. Adults, 18+, who have used any illicit drug in the previous 12 months (excluding one-time cannabis use) by income status in KFL&A and Ontario, 2011 & 2012

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Illicit drugs - use in previous 12 months, excluding one-time cannabis use, by income status

Caption:  Illicit drug use in the previous 12 months by income group, excluding one-time cannabis use

Summary:  The first column provides the income group. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

*Use with caution due to high variability.

Interpretation for Figure K

There were no differences seen in illicit drug use by income group.

Notes on the income grouping:

The income variable was based on a derived income variable from the CCHS.  This variable provided a distribution of respondents in deciles based on the adjusted ratio of their total household income to the low income cut-off corresponding to their household and community size.  It provides, for each respondent, a relative measure of their household income to the household incomes of all other respondents.  The income variables used in this report were determined as follows: the lowest 3 deciles of the derived variable from CCHS were categorized into 'Lower Income', the middle 4 deciles were categorized into 'Middle Income' and the highest 3 deciles were categorized into 'Higher Income'.

Illicit drugs - have ever used in lifetime, by drug type

Figure L.  Adults, 18+, who have ever used any illicit drug by drug type in KFL&A and Ontario, 2011 & 2012

*Use with caution due to high variability

NR - not releasable due to small numbers.

Caption:  Use of illicit drugs by type of drug

Summary:  The first column provides the years of data. The second column provides the percentage for KFL&A adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval. The third column provides the percentage for Ontario adults (18+), followed by the 95% confidence interval.

*Use with caution due to high variability

**PCP stands for phencyclidine, and it is a drug that exhibits hallucinogenic and neurotoxic effects.  It is also known as 'angel dust'.

***LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) also known as 'acid' is a drug known for psychological effects.

NR - not releasable due to small numbers.

Interpretation for Figure L

In 2011 & 2012, cocaine or crack [9.1*% (6.2-13.1)] and hallucinogens, PCP, or LSD [4.6*% (2.8, 7.4)] were the most frequently used illicit drugs among KFL&A residents aged 18+.

*Use with caution due to high variability

Confidence intervals explained

Researchers look at the "confidence levels" of percentages being compared to decide if there is a statistically significant difference between percentages. A statistically significant difference means that:

• the difference between two percentages is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, and
• there is a true difference or change in the percentages.

In this report, 95% confidence intervals will accompany each percentage in all figures and tables.  This interval represents the range in which we are 95% confident the true percentage will fall within.  In tables, the 95% confidence intervals will be written with the percentage, followed by the 95% confidence interval range in brackets (e.g., 25% (12.3, 32.4)).  In figures, the 95% confidence interval is represented by vertical bars in each bar line.