What is prevalence?
"Prevalence can be defined as the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time".
"Prevalence can be defined as the percentage of a population that is affected with a particular disease at a given time".
COCAINE & PREVALENCE
Cocaine became illegal in the early 1900's. This led to a decline in use. During the 1950's and 1960's, cocaine's popularity had increased. There is not much information about prevalence of cocaine use in Canada. The 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey (CAS) found that:
- Almost 11% of Canadians aged 15 years and older had tried cocaine or crack at least once
- About 2% reported cocaine use in the past 12 months
- Rates are higher among males and young people
- Fewer than 5% of Grade 7-12 students have used cocaine in the past year (and fewer still report use of crack)
- Rates increase through the high school years, for example: 7% of Grade 11 students in Ontario report past-year use of cocaine
- Prevalence of crack and cocaine use by street youth in various cities has been estimated at 31% for both crack and cocaine in Toronto (1992), 20% crack and 33% cocaine, in Halifax (1993), and 85% for cocaine in Vancouver (1994)
- 60% of offenders housed in federal correctional facilities in Canada reported using cocaine at least once during the period six-months before their arrest and incarceration
References
Cocaine Overview. (2011). Canadian Center on Substance Abuse. Retrieved on November 16, 2012 from http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/Topics/SubstancesAndAddictions/Cocaine/Pages/CocaineOverview.aspx
Dictionary: Prevalence. (2012). Merriam-webster. Retrieved on November 16, 2012 from http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalence
** SEE COMPLETE REFERENCE LIST UNDER MORE>INFORMATION SOURCES.
Dictionary: Prevalence. (2012). Merriam-webster. Retrieved on November 16, 2012 from http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prevalence
** SEE COMPLETE REFERENCE LIST UNDER MORE>INFORMATION SOURCES.
This page was last updated November 19, 2012.