FYI, the Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics has released the
results of its 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey. The complete results --
which are dramatic, to say the least -- can be found on the Bureau's
website at http://www.stats.gov.nt.ca
Jack
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1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey
Rates of use for alcohol, other drugs and tobacco
Background
The Bureau of Statistics completed the NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey during
late January through early March of 1996 at the request of the territorial
Department of Health & Social Services. Financial support for the survey
was provided by Health Canada, along with access to national data for
comparison purposes.
The NWT survey covered a variety of topics including:
* alcohol consumption;
* prescription and non-prescription drug usage and other medications;
* use of marijuana or hash, other illegal drugs, and aerosols or
solvents;
* use of tobacco products;
* gambling activities;
* views on laws relating to alcohol, drugs and tobacco;
* impacts on the family and community;
* respondent details such as age, sex, ethnic group, health status,
employment and work history.
A total of 1,590 persons were interviewed across the Northwest Territories.
All respondents to the survey were 15 years of age or older.
This report is the first in a series based on the survey and presents
overall findings on the use of alcohol, other drugs, and cigarettes.
Information is provided for the total territory, and for specific age, sex
and ethnic groups -- as well as for Nunavut and the new Western territory
that will be created on April 1, 1999. National statistics are also
presented from the Canada Alcohol & Other Drug Survey that was conducted in
the provinces during late 1994.
To facilitate comparisons, the information is presented as rates (i.e.,
population percentages) in the highlights below. Both estimated numbers of
persons and rate information are provided in the statistical tables at the
end of the report.
Highlights
Alcohol Consumption
During the Previous Twelve Months
The percentage of the NWT population who had consumed alcohol during the
twelve months prior to the survey (71.5%) was similar to the rate observed
nationally (72.3%). Within the Northwest Territories, alcohol consumption
during the previous year was much lower for Nunavut -- at 57.8% compared to
78.4% for the western NWT.
The proportion of NWT aboriginal persons who stated they had drank alcohol
in the past year was significantly lower -- at 60.1% compared to 85.2% for
non-aboriginal persons. As well, an estimated 74.5% of men had consumed
alcohol in the previous twelve months compared to 68.2% among women.
The NWT rate of alcohol use was highest among persons 25-34 years of age
(80.6%) compared to other age groups. Although the overall territorial
alcohol consumption by age group was roughly similar to Canada, alcohol use
for persons 15-24 years of age in the western NWT (87.4%) stood out as
being substantially above the Canadian rate (77.3%).
Incidence of Heavy Drinking
While the NWT and national rates for alcohol consumption during the
previous year were similar, there was a considerable difference in the
percentage of persons who drank heavily. In particular, individuals who
usually had five or more drinks on days when they consumed alcohol
represented 25.6% of the territorial population over 15 years of age. This
statistic compares to 8.8% nationally.
The incidence of heavy drinking in the Northwest Territories was much
higher among men than women. One-third of men reported consuming more than
five drinks when they drank, compared to 17.3% of women. Heavy drinking was
also more prevalent among aboriginal persons -- at 33.0% compared to 16.7%
for non-aboriginals.
The population percentage of heavy drinkers was fairly similar for Nunavut
and the western NWT. However, there are striking differences when comparing
sub-populations in each area. For example, an estimated 43.0% of 15-24 year
olds in the western NWT were heavy drinkers compared to 24.2% for Nunavut.
The rate of heavy drinking among aboriginal persons was much higher in the
western NWT -- at 40.6% normally consuming five or more drinks compared to
25.1% for Nunavut.
Frequency of Alcohol Consumption
The frequency of alcohol consumption in the Northwest Territories is
considerably below the rate for Canada as a whole. Specifically, some 28.0%
of NWT adults drank at least once a week compared to a 34.9% figure for
Canada. This finding was to be expected given the liquor restrictions in
place for many NWT communities.
Frequent alcohol consumption for persons in the western NWT stood at 33.8%,
a figure similar to the Canadian rate. Frequent drinking was much lower in
Nunavut, with just 16.8% of adults reporting they consumed alcohol weekly.
Frequent alcohol consumption was also much lower for aboriginal persons-at
18.5% compared to 39.5% for non-aboriginals.
Marijuana and Hash
The proportion of NWT adults who reported using marijuana or hash during
the twelve months prior to the survey was considerably higher for the
Northwest Territories (19.8%) compared to Canada (7.4%). In Nunavut, use
was 28.7% for persons 15 years and older; nearly four times the national
rate. For the western NWT, the rate was double the national figure -- at
15.3%.
As with alcohol, marijuana or hash use was higher for NWT men-at 26.8%
compared to 12.3% among women. However, unlike alcohol, use of these drugs
was greater for aboriginal persons (27.3%) compared to non-aboriginals
(10.8%) -- and in Nunavut (28.7%) versus the western NWT (15.3%). Among
aboriginal persons, marijuana or hash use was more prevalent in Nunavut --
at 32.5% compared to 22.3% for the western NWT.
Other Illegal Drugs
The use of other illegal drugs (LSD, speed, cocaine, crack or heroin)
during the twelve months prior to the survey -- at 3.3% of NWT adults --
was much lower than the figure for marijuana or hash. However, use of these
drugs was more than twice the national rate (1.5%).
Looking at age groups, those persons 15-24 years of age had the highest
rate territorially (7.1%) and a somewhat higher rate compared to this age
group nationally (5.8%). NWT men (4.8%) were three times more likely than
were women (1.6%) to have used these drugs during the previous twelve
months.
Use of other illegal drugs was significantly higher for Nunavut (5.6%)
compared to the western NWT (2.2%). Of particular note was drug use by
aboriginal persons in Nunavut which -- at 6.5% -- was more than four times
the overall national average.
Solvents and Aerosols
Sniffing solvents and aerosols is mainly a childhood behaviour. As the
survey covered only the population 15 years of age and older, the
information presented in this report refers to persons who have ever used
solvents or aerosols-rather than to use only during the past twelve months.
The proportion of persons who have ever sniffed solvents or aerosols was
much higher in the Northwest Territories -- at 11.1% of the adult
population compared to 0.8% for Canada. Sniffing these substances was also
more prevalent in Nunavut (20.7%) compared to the western NWT (6.3%).
The percentage of people who have used solvents or aerosols was
particularly high among aboriginal people -- at 19.0% (some 24 times the
national rate) compared to 1.7% for non-aboriginals. Among aboriginal
persons, the rate was much higher for those living in Nunavut (25.6%)
compared to the western NWT (12.7%). Having used solvents or aerosols was
also higher among men (13.6%) than women (8.5%).
Cigarettes
At the time of the NWT survey, an estimated 50.9% of adults smoked
cigarettes. This rate of current smokers was almost twice that observed
nationally (27.0%).
Within the Northwest Territories, smoking rates were quite similar for men
and women -- at 52.0% and 49.7% respectively. There was a particularly high
rate of tobacco use for persons 15-24 years of age (64.3%) -- almost double
the rate for this age group nationally (32.4%).
There was a considerable higher rate of cigarette smoking in Nunavut
(63.9%) compared to the western NWT (44.2%). Also, a very high rate of
smoking was observed for persons 15-24 years of age in Nunavut -- at 77.9%.
Aboriginal persons smoked cigarettes at a substantially higher rate (66.5%)
than did non-aboriginals (32.1%). Further, smoking by aboriginal persons
was considerably higher in Nunavut (70.5%) than in the western NWT (62.6%).
Methodology
Survey Organization
The 1996 NWT Alcohol & Drug Survey questionnaire and the survey procedures
were developed by the Bureau of Statistics in consultation with the
Department of Health & Social Services. A effort was made to keep the
questions comparable to the 1994 Canada Alcohol & Other Drug Survey.
Telephone interviews were completed with respondents to the survey residing
in Iqaluit, Sanikiluaq, Rankin Inlet, Inuvik, Fort Smith, Hay River and
Yellowknife. In all other communities, respondents were interviewed in
person. Most interviews were completed in the period late January through
to the end of February 1996.
Sampling Procedures
Population sampling rates for the survey were determined by the requirement
for statistically reliable estimates by sex, ethnic group and age category,
and for Nunavut and the new Western territory that will be created on April
1, 1999. A total of 1,590 interviews were completed for the survey -- 709
in Nunavut and 881 in the western NWT.
Data Processing & Sample Weights
Following data entry, computer-assisted edits were performed to check for
data entry errors and logical inconsistencies among responses. Weighting of
the statistical file was undertaken based on the estimated numbers of males
and females for specific age categories and ethnic groups. Weighting of the
sample was done at the community level.
Sampling & Non-Sampling Errors
Information on the sample sizes and sampling errors is summarized in Table
8 (in Table 8, available on-line). The minimum proportion of the noted
population for which estimates can be reliably produced is provided.
Another source of error in surveys is referred to as non-sampling errors.
These errors result from incorrect answers being given to questions, data
entry errors, etc. Surveys are designed to help minimize such errors.
Generally, the effect of such errors is not known.
Statistical Tables
Symbols & Notes:
no. number of persons
- zero or too small to be expressed
'000 thousands of persons
... not available
% percent
Values that are italicized (in Tables 4, 5 and 6, available on-line) have a
coefficient of variation of more than 33.3% and should be used with
considerable caution.
For additional information contact:
NWT Bureau of Statistics, P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Phone: (403) 873-7147
Fax: (403) 873-0275