FACT SHEET FOR TEEN SUBSTANCE USE
IN THE EAST KOOTENAY
Substance Use Has Decreased
Although kids today have a wider selection of drugs to choose from than 30 years ago,
the number of kids in Grades 7 – 12 using alcohol and other drugs in the East Kootenay
has been steadily decreasing over the past 6 years.
Alcohol: The number of kids who have tried alcohol decreased from 77% to 65%.
Tobacco: In the past 4 years, the number of kids who have never tried tobacco has gone
up from 61% to 70%, while the number who are current smokers has gone down from
16% to 12%.
Marijuana: The number of kids who have tried marijuana has decreased from 38% to
30%.
Magic Mushrooms: The number of kids who have tried magic mushrooms decreased
from 15% to 10%
All other drugs: Less than 10% of kids have tried any other drug. For example, only
4% have tried cocaine, 3% have tried amphetamines, and 9% have tried prescription or
over the counter drugs.
Substance Use Increases As Kids Get Older
More kids in Grade 12 say they have used alcohol or other drugs than kids in Grade 7.
The biggest increase in use occurs between Grades 8 and 9. For example, 46% of kids in
Grade 8 have tried alcohol while 88% of kids in Grade 12 have tried alcohol. 12% of
kids in Grade 8 have tried marijuana while 57% have tried in Grade 12.
Most Kids Have Not Used Many Times
Other than alcohol or marijuana, most kids (80-85%) who have used other drugs have
used them less than 10 times. In most cases over half have used them less than 4 times.
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FACT SHEET FOR TEEN SUBSTANCE USE
IN THE EAST KOOTENAY
Most Kids Don’t Use Very Often
For alcohol and all drugs 45% of kids who have used say they use less than once a month.
For alcohol and all drugs except marijuana, around 80% of kids say they use less than
once a week. With marijuana about 30% of kids who smoke marijuana say they use 3
days a week or more.
Risky Substance Use Behaviour
Binge Drinking: 74% of kids who use alcohol say they have binge drunk at least once.
47% say they binge drink once a month or more. Binge drinking increases the risk of
accidents, alcohol poisoning, assaults etc.
Drinking and Driving: Over half of East Kootenay kids say they have been a passenger
in a vehicle with a driver who was impaired by alcohol. 30% say they have been a
passenger with a driver who was impaired by marijuana.
Nearly 30% of Grade 12 students say they driven while impaired by alcohol, and 24%
say they driven after using marijuana.
Marijuana Use at School: 35% of kids who use marijuana say they have used before or
during regular school hours. Marijuana use affects short-term memory and the areas of
the brain associated with higher problem solving skills.
Sexual Behaviour: 25% of kids say their alcohol or drug use has caused them to have
unplanned sexual activity. 11% say their alcohol or drug use has caused them to have
unwanted sexual activity. Over 3% of boys and girls say they have exchanged sexual
activity for drugs. In all cases, girls are more likely to say yes to the above than boys.
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