MARIJUANA USE HAS DOUBLED, STUDY CLAIMS

Also, Survey Shows Higher Education Equals Higher Pot
Use

OTTAWA -- The number of Canadians who say they have used cannabis or
injectable drugs in the past year has doubled in a decade, according
to a major new survey.

But addiction specialists still see alcohol abuse as the greater
problem.

Data from the Canada Addiction Survey, the most comprehensive
addictions survey ever done in Canada, presents a disturbing picture
of a society increasingly dependent on mood-altering substances.

Fourteen per cent of respondents said they had used cannabis in the
last year, up from 7.4 per cent in 1994.

Overall, 45 per cent said they had used pot at least once in their
lifetime.

Nearly seven per cent reported using injection drugs in 2004, which
would translate into 269,000 Canadians. That's up from 132,000 in 1994.

The survey also suggests that more than four million Canadians have
used an injectible drug at some point in their life, up from 1.7
million in 1994.

The proportion of drinkers rose to 79.3 per cent this year from 72.3
per cent in 1994. Seven per cent of respondents described themselves
as frequent heavy drinkers, up from 5.4 per cent in 1994.

Researchers who conducted the study said it showed the need for better
drug-control programs but did not indicate alarm at the findings.

"This is both a good news and bad news story," Michel Perron of the
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse told a news conference today.

"Despite the fact that most Canadians drink in moderation and without
harm we are concerned about heavy drinking among youth aged 18 to 24.

"The increasing use of cannabis by Canadian youth is also an area of
concern because we know cannabis is not a benign substance."

The reasons for the increasing substance use will become clearer as
data are analysed in greater detail, he said.

Robert Hanson of Health Canada said the department is working on a
campaign targeted at youth to discourage cannabis and alcohol use, and
consulting on a national strategy.

Ed Adlaf of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health said alcohol is
the greatest concern because it affects the most people. He said about
20 per cent of adults are drinking hazardously.

Adlaf said he is also concerned that 18 per cent of cannabis users are
using the drug daily, and about a third say they can't control their
use.

Males were more likely than females to have used the drug, and young
people had a higher rate of use than older Canadians.

The survey also suggests usage increases with education, rising to 52
per cent for those with post-secondary education from 35 per cent
among high school dropouts.

The updated information comes as the federal government moves to
decriminalize the possession of small amounts of pot.

The pro-marijuana group NORML Canada says the survey clearly shows
that cannabis laws have failed to deter people from using the drug.

The survey was sponsored by Health Canada, the Canadian Executive
Council on Addictions and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.