"Respondents were asked about past-year use of illegal drugs. Similar to CTADS, illegal drugs included cocaine or crack, ecstasy, speed or methamphetamines, hallucinogens, inhalants, heroin, and salvia. For 2019, respondents were also asked about their use of synthetic cannabinoids, mephedrone, BZP/TFMPP, kratom and other drugs.
"Past-year use of at least one of six illegal drugs (cocaine/crack, speed/methamphetamine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, heroin, salvia) was 3% (1.1 million), unchanged from 3% (987,000) in 2017 and an increase from 2% (678,000) in 2015.
"Overall, prevalence of past-year use of these illegal drugs was similar among males (4% or 616,000) and females (3% or 465,000). For males, this is unchanged from 2017 (5% or 719,000), while for females, this is an increase from 2017 (2% or 268,000).
"Past-year use of at least one of six illegal drugs was higher among young adults aged 20 to 24 (14% or 310,000) than among youth aged 15 to 19 (3% or 63,000) and adults aged 25 and older (3% or 708,000). There was no change from 2017 for any age group.
"Overall, among Canadians past-year illegal drug use remained low. Cocaine/crack remained the most-consumed illegal substance, with 2% (605,000) of respondents having consumed cocaine or crack in the past year, unchanged from 2017 (2% or 730,000). Males (2% or 362,000) and females (2% or 243,000) consumed cocaine or crack in similar amounts, unchanged from 2017 (4% for males and 1% for females). Past-year use of cocaine or crack was higher among young adults aged 20 to 24 (9% or 203,000) than adults aged 25 and older (1% or 390,000), and both were unchanged from 2017. Cocaine/crack use among youth aged 15 to 19 was not reportable due to small sample size.
"Hallucinogen use was similar to cocaine/crack use in 2019. Hallucinogens are drugs such as LSD, PCP, and psilocybin (magic mushrooms). Two percent (2% or 587,000) of Canadians consumed hallucinogens in 2019, unchanged from 1% (443,000) in 2017. Males (2% or 352,000) and females (1% or 234,000) consumed hallucinogens in similar amounts. For males this is unchanged from 2017 (2% or 341,000) but for females this is an increase from 2017 (less than one percent (0.7%) or 102,000). Hallucinogen consumption was higher among young adults aged 20 to 24 (6% or 129,000) than youth aged 15 to 19 (2% or 47,000) and adults aged 25 and older (2% or 411,000).
"One percent (1% or 353,000) of Canadians reported consuming ecstasy in the past year, unchanged from 2017 (1% or 271,000). Methamphetamine/amphetamine use was reported by 0.5% (142,000) of Canadians, though data were not reportable for 2017 so no comparison can be made. The number of Canadians who reported consuming inhalants (glue or other solvents), synthetic cannabinoids, kratom, and other drugs in the past year was very low, and there were no observations for consumption of salvia, heroin, mephedrone, or BZP/TFMPP in the past year. Table 11 presents past-year illegal drug use among Canadians since 2008.
"Among Canadians who reported ever consuming any illegal drugs, cannabis or psychoactive pharmaceuticals, 1% (199,000) reported ever injecting drugs. Males were more likely than females to have ever injected drugs (1% or 145,000 vs. less than 1% or 54,000, respectively). Data were not reportable for youth aged 15 to 19 or young adults aged 20 to 24 due to small sample size."
Government of Canada. Canadian tobacco, alcohol and drugs survey (CTADS): summary of results for 2019. Last accessed October 16, 2024.
