Alcohol |
Heavy Drinking EpisodesHeavy 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 RiskWith 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 AlcoholIn 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 AlcoholIn 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 SurveyIn 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
Last updated: July 5, 2023 Visit the PHO Snapshots Cannabis Harms page for more detail. Use by studentsCannabis 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 |
SmokingIn 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
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
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 UseIn 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
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. Illicit drug use by students
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:
Read the full report: Opioid-Related Morbidity and Mortality in the Health Unit Region - 2005 - 2017 (July 2018). Nipissing Parry Sound Online Overdose Reporting SystemThe 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
New Data: E-cigarettes and Vape Use |
Across Canada in 2022, it was found that Canadians aged 15 to 19 (30%) were twice as likely to have tried vaping compared to those aged 25 and older (Statistics Canada). Ontario Student Drug Use and Health SurveyIn the 2022/2023 school year, the Health Unit was involved in an oversample of the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). This oversample included 14 elementary schools (361 students across grades 7 and 8) and six secondary schools (374 students in grades 9-12) in the Health Unit district. The first indicator analyzed focuses on vaping/e-cigarette use. Additional indicators will be posted here as they are analyzed. E-Cigarette/Vaping Results
Figure 1Figure 1: A graph comparing the percentage of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region, in northern Ontario, and all of Ontario, who reported trying an electronic cigarette (any type) at least once in their lifetime. Figure 2Figure 2: Graph indicating which grades students reported being in when they first used a vaping device. The graph compares responses of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region, northern Ontario and all of Ontario. Figure 3Figure 3: A graph comparing the number of students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region, in northern Ontario, and in all of Ontario, who reported having used an electronic cigarette (any type) in the 12 months prior to answering the questionnaire (excludes smoking a few puffs)
NotesON: All Ontario students who participated in OSDUHS North: Students who participated in OSDUHS from Northern Ontario regions, excluding the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) region HU: Students in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) 2023 [datafile]. Toronto, ON: CAMH;[Data accessed: 2024 June 5]. |
2014-2015 Data
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 |
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). |
Cigarette and Tobacco Use by Students |
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 |
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. |
Other Reports |
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. |