Alcohol Most Tried Substance Among BC Youth

According to the 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey, among school-aged youth, alcohol emerged as the most commonly tried substance, followed by marijuana and cigarettes. The next most frequently tried substance is prescribed drugs taken without a doctor's consent. Fewer students report ever trying other illicit drugs such as hallucinogens, magic mushrooms, inhalants, or cocaine.

Student Substance Use in BC's Regions

Students in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser health authorities are less likely to have ever used alcohol, marijuana, or other illicit drugs compared to students in Northern, Interior, and Vancouver Island health authorities. Other illicit drugs include prescription drugs without a doctor's consent, hallucinogens (including ecstasy), mushrooms, cocaine, inhalants, or amphetamines (including crystal meth), steroids and heroin.

Trends in Substance Use by BC Youth

Overall rates of students ever trying alcohol, marijuana and tobacco in BC have been steadily declining over the last 10 years. There are similar trends over the last 10 years for students’ use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana during the previous month. Although the rate of marijuana use in the 30 days prior stayed the same between 1998 and 2003 at 21%, it dropped to 17% in 2008. The decrease in students who used alcohol in the past month was more consistent, from 43% in 1998 to 40% in 2003, and then 37% for 2008. Although the rate of students who smoked in the same time period dropped substantially from 1998 to 2003 (from 25% down to 13%), there was no significant difference in 2008 (12%).

Data: 2008 Source: Adolescent Substance Use and Related Harms in British Columbia