Substance Use Harms

Alcohol

Heavy Drinking Episodes

Heavy Drinking is defined as four or more drinks within a single event for women, and five or more drinks for men.

In 2017/18, within the Health Unit region, an estimated 24.5% (age-standardized) of persons 19+ years of age met or exceeded the heavy drinking limit at least once a month.

In 2019/2020, within the Health Unit region, an estimated 28.8% (age standardized) of persons 19+ years of age met or exceeded the heavy drinking limit at least once a month. This was significantly higher when compared to Ontario at 17.7%.

Last updated: October 30, 2023

Data source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2019/20

Categories of Drinking Risk

With Canada's new Guidelines on Alcohol and Health released in 2023, formerly Low Risk Drinking Guidelines, highlighted below are the percentage estimates for moderate and high risk levels associated with weekly alcohol consumption.

Across 2015/16, 2017/18 and 2019/2020, in the Health Unit region, 17.0%, 14.0%, and 19.0% respectively, of the legal age persons (age-standardized) reported having 3-6 drinks a week which corresponds to moderate risk with regards to alcohol harms. The 2019/2020 Health Unit region percentage was not statistically different when compared to the Ontario estimate of 14.9%.

High risk alcohol consumption in the Health Unit region for 2015/16, 2017/18, and 2019/2020 was identified as 17.0%, 21.0%, and 20.7% respectively, of legal aged persons (age-standardized) reported having seven or more drinks per week. The 2019/2020 percent estimate was not statistically different when compared to Ontario at 14.8%.

Last updated: October 30, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Alcohol Use page for more detail.

Please see the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s report entitled Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final Report for more information.

Emergency Department Visits Attributable to Alcohol

In 2021, within the Health Unit region, there were approximately 805 emergency department visits per 100,000 individuals (age-standardized) where the only reason for the visit was alcohol related. This was significantly higher than the provincial rate of 543 visits per 100,000 individuals (age-standardized).

Last updated: October 30, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Alcohol Harms page for more detail.

Hospitalizations Attributable to Alcohol

In 2021, within the Health Unit region, there were approximately 352 hospitalizations per 100,000 individuals (age-standardized) where the only reason for being hospitalized was alcohol related. This was significantly higher than the provincial rate of 211 hospitalizations per 100,000 individuals (age-standardized).

Last updated: October 30, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Alcohol Harms page for more detail.

Cannabis

Community Cannabis Survey

In the fall of 2018, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU) surveyed residents of Nipissing and Parry Sound districts, aged 16 and older, to learn about their recreational cannabis use, attitudes towards cannabis, and knowledge of harm reduction messages related to cannabis.

View the 8 Key Findings from the 2018 Community Cannabis Survey

Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for all cannabis-related harms

In 2021, the age-standardized rate of ED visits for all cannabis-related harms in the Health Unit region was statistically significantly higher compared to the Ontario rate (240.1 versus 121.9 visits per 100,000 population, respectively). The rate among 26 to 44 years old in the Health Unit region was almost 2.25 times the rate in Ontario for the same age group.
In 2021, the age-standardized rate of hospitalization for all cannabis-related harms in the Health Unit region was statistically significantly higher compared to the Ontario rate (106.9 versus 53.8 hospitalizations per 100,000 population, respectively). The rates among 13 to 18 years old, as well as 26 to 44 years old in the Health Unit region were both more than double the rates in Ontario for the same age groups.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cannabis Harms page for more detail.

Use by students

Cannabis Use Among Students in the Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region talks about student use of cannabis by gender and grade. Details include frequency of use, attitudes about cannabis use, and driving after using cannabis.

Read more in our report Cannabis Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014 School Year (November 2017).

View the Executive summary / Sommaire

Cigarettes and other tobacco

Smoking

In 2015/16, the age-standardized percentage of current (includes daily and occasional) adult smokers (23%) and daily adult smokers (18%) in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region was statistically similar to percentages of current smokers (18%) and daily smokers (12%) in Ontario. Of the adult population that did not smoke, 25% of adult non-smokers reported being former smokers in the Health Unit region compared to 24% of Ontario adult non-smokers. About a third of the adult population in the Health Unit region (42%) have abstained from smoking, statistically similar compared to 45% of adults in Ontario.

Last updated: November 3, 2022.

Visit the PHO Snapshots Self-Reported Smoking page for more detail.

Read more in our report Detailed Cigarette Smoking Patterns in the NBPSDHU region between 2007-2012 (December 2014).

Quit intentions and attempts (Smoking cessation)

In 2013/14, about four in ten smokers within the Health Unit region have seriously considered quitting within the next 30 days, similar to the percentage for smokers in the North East LHIN and Ontario. About six in ten smokers in our region have seriously considered quitting within the next six months in 2013/14, similar compared to smokers in the North East LHIN region and Ontario.

Read more in our report Smoking Cessation in the NBPSDHU Region (March 2017).

Cigarette and tobacco use by students

The proportion of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who reported using tobacco cigarettes (excluding a few puffs) in the previous 12 months during the 2014/15 school year (12.6%) is similar to the proportion of students in other northern regions (11.7%) and Ontario (8.6%) that reported smoking in the previous year.
In 2014/15, 4.8% students in the Health Unit region smoked one whole tobacco cigarette for the very first time in the past year, similar to the percentages for students in other northern regions (8.0%) and Ontario (6.3%).
About one in three students (28.7%) in the Health Unit region reported smoking tobacco cigarettes in their lives, similar to the percentage for students in other northern regions (24.4%) but significantly higher compared to Ontario students (19.1%).
A significantly higher percentage of Aboriginal students in other northern regions and Ontario reported lifetime tobacco cigarette use, as compared to non-Aboriginal students. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in the NBPSDHU region reported similar lifetime use of tobacco cigarettes.

Read more in our report Cigarette & Tobacco Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014/15 School Year (December 2017). This report presents on all tobacco use including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, water pipe/hookah, and e-cigarettes. Other topics include exposure to second-hand smoke, quit attempts, and sources for cigarettes.

Exposure to cigarette smoke

In 2013/14, about eight of every ten households in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) region did not allow smoking inside the home, significantly lower compared to Ontario households where about nine of every ten households prohibited smoking inside the home.
In 2013/14, about one of every ten non-smokers of the age-standardized population aged 12 years or older in the Health Unit region reported exposure to second-hand smoke in a private vehicle, statistically similar to estimates for the population in the North East LHIN region and Ontario.
In 2013/14, about three of every twenty non-smokers of the age-standardized population aged 12 years or older within the Health Unit region were exposed to second-hand smoke in a public place, statistically similar to estimates from the population in the North East LHIN region and Ontario.

Read more in our report Exposure to Cigarette Smoke in the Health Unit region (April 2018). This report presents data from the 2013/14 Canadian Community Health Survey. Topics are described by the following dimensions: Geography (Health Unit, North East LHIN, and Ontario); Gender (Male, Female); and, Adjusted Household Income Level (Low income, Middle income, High income).

Other Tobacco Use

In 2013/14, 6.0% of the population aged 12 years or older in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region smoked cigars, pipes, or used snuff, or chewing tobacco in the previous month, similar to the percentage for the North East LHIN region (7.1%) and Ontario (5.2%). Percentages have not changed significantly since 2007/08 for any type of other tobacco use in any of the three regions.

Read more in our report Other Tobacco Use in the NBPSDHU Region Between 2007-2014 (March 2017).

Smoke-Free Beaches: A Youth-Led Initiative

This report highlights the findings from public surveys and observations conducted by youth in 2016 to gather evidence to support the creation of smoke-free public spaces.

Illicit drugs

Illicit drug use in adults

Between 2009 and 2012, 51.7% of the adult population in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region reported using an illegal drug in their lifetime, significantly higher compared to the Ontario age-standardized percentage (40.6%). In other words, about 11% more of the population in the Health Unit region tried an illegal drug.
Lifetime cannabis use is significantly higher within the Health Unit region (51.4%) compared to Ontario (40.1%). Use of any illicit drug or cannabis during the lifetime is significantly higher among both males and females, 20 to 44 year olds, as well as 45 to 64 year olds in the Health Unit region compared to Ontario.

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cannabis Harms page for more detail.

Illicit drug use among expectant mothers

Visit our Reproductive and Child Health page for information on maternal health.

Substance use by students

The proportion of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who reported illegal substance use in their lifetime in 2014/15 (26.5%) is comparable to other northern regions (23.7%) and Ontario (22.8%).
Males and females reported using illegal substances in comparable proportions, however, a significantly higher proportion of female students in the Health Unit region reported using illegal substances compared to all female students in Ontario.
Significantly more students in grades 11 to 12 in the Health Unit region reported illegal substance use compared to students in grades 7 to 8.
The percentage of self-identified Aboriginal students who reported illegal substance use did not differ from non-Aboriginal students in the Health Unit region or Ontario. The percentage of students who reported illegal substance use did not differ by perceived socioeconomic status in any of the three regions.

Read more in our report Other Substance Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014/15 School Year (December 2017). This report summarizes non-medical use of prescription drugs and use of illegal drugs. Drug use is presented for the previous year and their lifetime, as well as by drug.

Opioids

2018 Report: Morbidity and Mortality (Death)

This report summarizes opioid-related emergency department visits & deaths in the Health Unit region, and makes comparisons to Ontario rates in the overall population and by sex and age group.

Highlights:

In 2017, the crude rate for opioid-related emergency departments in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region was among the highest rates in the past 12 years, and similar to the Ontario rate in 2017.
The crude death rate in the Health Unit region was similar to the death rate in Ontario during 2017. Crude death rates were significantly higher in the Health Unit region between 2010 and 2014, compared to Ontario.

Read the full report: Opioid-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the Health Unit Region - 2005 - 2017 (July 2018).

Nipissing Parry Sound Online Overdose Reporting System

The Nipissing Parry Sound Online Overdose Reporting System tracks real-time data related to overdoses and negative drug reactions. Local agencies and emergency services in Nipissing and Parry Sound submit reports of overdoses and negative drug reactions to the Health Unit. The Health Unit summarizes the information collected in the dashboard below. The dashboard contains a series of interactive graphs that allows users to understand and investigate drug-related trends locally. Data is updated weekly.

Substance use among students

Alcohol use by students

The proportion of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who reported alcohol use in the past year (55.4%) is significantly higher than Ontario students who reported alcohol use (45.8%), but similar to students in other northern regions that reported alcohol use (51.5%). The percentage of students that reported alcohol use in 2014/15 is similar to 2010/11 in the Health Unit region and other northern regions, but lower in Ontario.

Read more in our report Alcohol Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014/15 School Year (November 2017). Topics include alcohol use during the past year, drunkenness or bingeing in the past month, usual source of alcohol, and drinking and driving.

Cannabis use by students

Read more in our report Cannabis Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014 School Year (November 2017).

Cigarette and tobacco use by students

The proportion of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who reported using tobacco cigarettes (excluding a few puffs) in the previous 12 months during the 2014/15 school year (12.6%) is similar to the proportion of students in other northern regions (11.7%) and Ontario (8.6%) that reported smoking in the previous year.
In 2014/15, 4.8% students in the Health Unit region smoked one whole tobacco cigarette for the very first time in the past year, similar to the percentages for students in other northern regions (8.0%) and Ontario (6.3%).
About one in three students (28.7%) in the Health Unit region reported smoking tobacco cigarettes in their lives, similar to the percentage for students in other northern regions (24.4%) but significantly higher compared to Ontario students (19.1%).
A significantly higher percentage of Aboriginal students in other northern regions and Ontario reported lifetime tobacco cigarette use, as compared to non-Aboriginal students. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students in the NBPSDHU region reported similar lifetime use of tobacco cigarettes.

Read more in our report Cigarette & Tobacco Use Among Students in Grades 7 to 12 in the NBPSDHU Region: 2014/15 School Year (December 2017). This report presents on all tobacco use including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, water pipe/hookah, & e-cigarettes. Other topics include exposure to second-hand smoke, quit attempts, and sources for cigarettes.

Illegal substance use by students

The proportion of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region who reported illegal substance use in their lifetime in 2014/15 (26.5%) is comparable to other northern regions (23.7%) and Ontario (22.8%).
Males and females reported using illegal substances in comparable proportions, however, a significantly higher proportion of female students in the Health Unit region reported using illegal substances compared to all female students in Ontario.
Significantly more students in grades 11 to 12 in the Health Unit region reported illegal substance use compared to students in grades 7 to 8.
The percentage of self-identified Aboriginal students who reported illegal substance use did not differ from non-Aboriginal students in the Health Unit region or Ontario. The percentage of students who reported illegal substance use did not differ by perceived socioeconomic status in any of the three regions.

Other reports

Substance use among students in grades 7 to 12 in the NPBSDHU region, 2014/15: Executive Summary
(Consommation de substances parmi les élèves de la 7e à la 12e année de la région desservie par le BSDNBPS, 2014-2015)

Effective and Comprehensive Approaches to Substance Misuse Prevention among Youth

A literature review and environmental scan were conducted to highlight promising practices for what should be included in successful substance misuse prevention approaches targeted at youth in grades 7-12 in schools and in the broader community.