Alcohol consumption and cannabis use are often seen by many people as harmless social activities or ways to relieve everyday stress. However, alcohol use is associated with not only injury and increased risk of certain cancers and liver disease, but it is also connected with secondary risks such as dangerous sexual behaviors. Cannabis use has been associated with psychotic episodes.
The Centre for Addiction and Health in Ontario recently released their report, detailing information gathered in a survey of local adults. The survey asked about daily drinking and cannabis use, as well as psychological distress. The report showed that there are increasing rates of daily drinking and cannabis use and high levels of psychological distress among Ontario residents.
The CAMH Monitor survey is the longest running survey that tracks mental health and addiction. In its latest report, the survey showed that the number of adults that drink daily increased from 5.3 percent in 2002 to more than 9 percent in 2009. In addition, the average number of drinks per day has increased, from 3 drinks per day to 4.6. The proportion of adults that exceed low-risk drinking guidelines remains high at 22 percent.
The report, however, also published some findings that provide encouragement. There was a significant decline noted in binge drinking, with the rate in 2006 at 12.6 percent decreasing to 7.1 percent in 2009. A major decline was noted especially among young adults, with the number dropping from 24 percent to 11.5 percent.
Driving within an hour of consuming two or more drinks was a measure that showed a decline, from 13.1 percent in 1996 to 6.9 percent in 2009, the report indicates that there might be a reversal of the trend among young adults, with 18 to 29 year olds increasing on this measure from 7.7 percent in 2005 to 12.8 percent in 2009.
Cannabis use has shown a steady increase, from 8.7 percent in 1996 to 13.3 percent in 2009, taking into account both genders and all age groups. Among younger adults aged 18 to 29, there was a significant increase, from 18.3 percent to 35.8 percent.
The researchers at CAMH explain that increasing cannabis use is of particular concern because it has been linked closely with psychosis, especially for people who are predisposed to developing schizophrenia. The use of cannabis may worsen the symptoms of a number of mental illnesses.
The researchers report that there is also a significant increase in cannabis users among older adults, with those over the age of 50 showing an increase from 1.4 percent to 4.7 percent from 1996 to 2009, and among past-year cannabis users, the percentage of those aged 50 and over increased from 1.9 percent to 13.9 percent.
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