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Illicit Drug Use in Canada and Implications for Suicidal Behaviors, and Household Food Insecurity: Findings from a Large, Nationally Representative Survey

Author

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  • Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

    (Centre for Disease Modelling, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Dan Beamish

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9, Canada
    Department of Emergency Medicine, Pembroke Regional Hospital, Pembroke, ON K8A 1G8, Canada)

  • Jude Dzevela Kong

    (Centre for Disease Modelling, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

  • Jianhong Wu

    (Centre for Disease Modelling, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada)

Abstract

Background and Aims : Illicit drug use is an ongoing health and social issue in Canada. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use and its implications for suicidal behaviors, and household food insecurity in Canada. Design : Cross-sectional population survey. Setting : Canada, using the 2015–2016 Canadian Community Health Survey, a nationally representative sample selected by stratified multi-stage probability sampling. Participants : A total of 106,850 respondents aged ≥ 12 years who had completed information on illicit drug use. Measurements : Illicit drug use was assessed through a series of questions about illicit drug use methods. Respondents who reported lifetime illicit drug use but no past-year use were considered to have prior illicit drug use. In this survey, illicit drug use included cannabis use. Findings : Overall, the prevalence of lifetime, past-year, and prior illicit drug use was 33.2% (9.8 million), 10.4% (3.1 million), and 22.7% (6.7 million), respectively. In models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, prior illicit drug use was significantly associated with increased odds of past-year suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.40), and plans (1.48, 1.15–1.91), and past-year household food insecurity (1.27, 1.14–1.41), and the odds were much higher among prior injecting drug users than prior non-injecting drug users. No significant correlation was found between prior illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts, but there was a strong association between past-year illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts. Conclusions : Our findings suggest that even after people have stopped taking illicit drugs, prior illicit drug use, especially for prior injecting drug use, continues to be associated with increased risks of subsequent suicidal ideation, and plans, and household food insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola Luigi Bragazzi & Dan Beamish & Jude Dzevela Kong & Jianhong Wu, 2021. "Illicit Drug Use in Canada and Implications for Suicidal Behaviors, and Household Food Insecurity: Findings from a Large, Nationally Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6425-:d:574560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lehti, Venla & Niemelä, Solja & Hoven, Christina & Mandell, Donald & Sourander, Andre, 2009. "Mental health, substance use and suicidal behaviour among young indigenous people in the Arctic: A systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 1194-1203, October.
    2. Janette Leroux & Kathryn Morrison & Mark Rosenberg, 2018. "Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Older People in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-17, November.
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    1. Jincong Yu & Qingfeng Wu & Yuqin Wu & Jiang Li & Qinxuan Wu & Huiping Cao & Zengzhen Wang, 2021. "Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Club Drug Use among Secondary Vocational Students in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-11, October.

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