Narco Non Victims

Licit drugs in Canada

While there is no doubt that it would be useful to do so, it is not possible to deal with legal and illegal drugs in a totally separate manner. The nature of drug reporting systems and the harms to individuals and society make such a separation unrealistic. The diversion of licit drugs into illicit markets plays a key role in drug-related harms. Sales of prescription drugs are not monitored on a national basis and information about illicit drugs is limited to reports of drug seizures, enforcement activities and surveys. This data base is limited both in terms of scope and quality.

Legal Drugs:

The information about legal drugs contained here is from five sources: the 1994 Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey; market survey research; the Bureau of Drug Surveillance diversion statistics; hospital data from the Canadian Centre for Health Information; causes of death, from Statistics Canada.

Pharmaceuticals:

Nearly five million Canadians (21%) use one or more of the following medications: tranquilizers, sleeping pills, diet pills/stimulants, anti-depressants, prescription pain relievers (codeine/demerol/morphine). More women than men use these medications (24% versus 18%). There is a wide range in levels of use of the different medications across the provinces.

Prescription Pain Relievers:

Slightly more than 3 million Canadians (13 %) use prescription pain pills (opiate narcotics such as codeine, morphine and Demerol); more women (14 %) than men (12%) use these pills. Use is highest in people 18-19 (15.5%) and lowest between ages 55-64 (11%). Use is highest among those with the lowest income. Regionally, the highest use was in BC (21%) and lowest in Quebec (7%).

Sleeping Pills:

Approximately 4.5% of Canadians reported using sleeping pills in the 1994 survey. Use increases with age, with 7.5% of persons 55 and older and 11.5% of those 75 and over using them. More women (5.5%) than men (3.5%) use sleeping pills. Regionally, sleeping pills are used most often in PEI (6%) and least in Newfoundland (2.5%).

Tranquilizers:

Almost 1 million Canadians (4.5%) use tranquilizers. More women (5.5%) than men (3.5%) report use of tranquilizers and use tends to increase with age and to decrease with income. Regionally, tranquilizers are used most in Quebec (7%) and least in Alberta (3.0%).

Anti-depressants:

About 3% of Canadians use anti-depressants, with women being twice as likely as men to report their use (4% versus 2%). They are used more often by people aged 45-64 years of age (4%). Regionally, antidepressants are use most in Nova Scotia (4%) and least in Ontario (2%).

Diet Pills/Stimulants:

Approximately 1% of Canadians use diet pills or stimulants. Use is highest among those aged 20 to 24 years (2%) and in those living in New Brunswick and Alberta (1.5%).

Steroids and Solvents:

Less than 0.5% of Canadians report ever having used steroids. Solvents, glues and inhalants are used by youth and street people who are not reached by the kinds of surveys carried out nationally; less than 1% of Canadians contacted in the 1994 survey reported ever having used solvents.