Abuso de drogas en Ontario, Canada / Drug use in Ontario

Two long-term surveys of drug use have been carried out in Ontario, Canada - one involving middle-and high-school students, and the other adults in the general population. These studies revealed that use of tobacco and alcohol is common and that Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug by both the students and adults (15.9 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively, in 1987). Use of other illicit drugs is much less common. The trend data from 1977 to 1987 show a decrease in all drug use among students and a basically stable pattern among adults, with the exception of an upward trend in cocaine use. A study of adult cocaine users in the community found that half had experienced intense cravings for cocaine and other adverse effects. Demographic information was also gathered that made it possible to outline the most common characteristics of Cannabis and cocaine users

Comparacion del abuso del alcohol, tabaco y drogas entre estudiantes y delincuentes en las Bahamas / Comparison of alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse among students and delinquents in the Bahamas

Surveys of drug use were conducted among 4,767 junior and senior high school students in 1987 and 74 incarcerated delinquents in 1988 in the Bahamas. It was found that the majority of both groups reported having drunk alcohol, and substancial proportions had also smoked tobacco, altough over twice as many delinquents as students had smoked. However, use of illicit drugs was far more common among delinquents, at seven times the student rate for marijuana and six times for cocaine. Many social and demographic similarities were found among users in both groups, who were likely to be males who had trouble in school or did not attend schools, were not religiously active, and came from families where drugs were used or sold. Over one-third of the delinquents had sold drugs, but almost half (44 percent) of the delinquents and 25 percent of the students said they would use or sell marijuana or cocaine if they had it. The results of the studies point to the need for increased drug education in the Bahamas and for efforts involving schools, churches, parents, the media, and Government