Charts
Figure 2. Substance Use-Attributable Deaths, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Opioids, B.C.(2007–2020)
Source: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction & Canadian Institute for Substance UseResearch, 2023, Canadian substance use costs and harms (CSUCH) visualization tool.
Note: For details on the methodology used to derive estimates, refer to the CSUCH technical report.
Key Point: Deaths attributed to tobacco are significantly higher than for alcohol or opioids.
Figure 3. Premature Deaths Attributed to Alcohol, Opioids, and Tobacco, Island Health (2007–2019)
Source: Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, 2022, Interactive data visualization tool.21
Note: The figures contained in the graphs and tables are derived using record-level data, estimates and imputed data.
Key Point: Premature deaths in Island Health continue to be higher for tobacco and alcohol than for opioids
Figure 4. Substance Use-Attributable Potential Years of Productive Life Lost, by Substance, B.C. and Canada (2007–2020)
* excluding alcohol and opioids
** excluding cocaine
*** including hallucinogens and inhalants
Source: Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms Scientific Working Group. (2023). Canadian substance use costs and harms visualization tool, version 3.0.2 [Online tool]. Retrieved from https://csuch.ca/explore-the-data
Note:
- For details on the methodology used to derive estimates, refer to the CSUCH technical report.
- Costs due to premature mortality were estimated by calculating future productive years of life lost due to death. See the CSUCH technical report for more detail.
- Other CNS depressants exclude alcohol and opioids, and other CNS stimulants exclude cocaine.
- These estimates do not include costs or counts associated with premature mortality in Yukon for years 2017 to 2020 only.
Key Point: Despite the higher death rates due to tobacco, potential years of lifelost are higher for opioids than for tobacco because deaths due to opioids occur at much younger ages.
Figure 6. Annual per Capita Alcohol Consumption (Litres) by Year by Island Health Health Service Delivery Area, Island Health and B.C. (2002–2022)
Source: Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, 2022, Interactive data visualization tool.
Note: The figures contained in the graphs and tables are derived using record-level data, estimates and imputed data.
Key Point: Premature deaths in Island Health continue to be higher for tobacco and alcohol than for opioids
Figure 9A. Frequency* of Alcohol Consumption by Community Type, Island Health (2023)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: In 2021, the majority of Island Health residents reported never using cannabis in the past 12 months.
Figure 9B. Frequency of Binge Drinking* by Community Type, Island Health (2023)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: In 2021, the majority of Island Health residents reported never using cannabis in the past 12 months.
Figure 11. Youth Ever Having Tried Alcohol by Year of Survey, Island Health (1992–2023)
Source: Data provided by McCreary Centre Society, BC Adolescent Health Survey, 1992 through 2023
Note: Survey administered to students in Grades 7–12 (aged 12–19) every 5 years.
Key Point: The proportion of youth aged 12-19 who were attending grades 7-12 in schools within Island Health who have reported trying alcohol has decreased steadily over the past 30 years.
Figure 14. Rate of Substance-Related Hospital Admissions, Island Health (2013–2023)
Source: Island Health Enterprise Data Warehouse, Discharge Abstract Database, compiled by Island Health Population Health Assessment, Surveillance & Epidemiology
Note: 2023 data adjusted for partial year (data to June 2023)
Key Point: Excluding tobacco, alcohol-related hospital admissions consistently account for the highest rate of substance-related hospital admissions in IslandHealth, accounting for nearly two times more admissions than the next leading cause of substance-related admissions, opioids, in 2023.
Figure 15. Rate of Hospital Admissions Entirely Caused by Alcohol per 100,000Population, Island Health, B.C., and Canada (2015–2023)
Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information
Key Point: The rate of hospital admissions entirely caused by alcohol in 2022–2023in Island Health was 1.3 times higher than B.C. and nearly 2 times higher than Canada.
Figure 17. Rate of Alcohol-Related Hospital Admissions by Health Service DeliveryArea, Island Health (2011–2023)
Source: Island Health Enterprise Data Warehouse, Discharge Abstract Database, compiled by Island Health Population Health Assessment, Surveillance & Epidemiology
Note: 2023 data adjusted for partial year (data to June 2023)
Key Point: Rates of alcohol-related hospital admissions inNorth and Central Island were nearly 1.5 times higher than South Island.
Figure 21. Rate of Unregulated Drug Deaths by Health Authority, B.C. (2013–2023)
Source: Island Health Enterprise Data Warehouse, Discharge Abstract Database, compiled by Island Health Population Health Assessment, Surveillance & Epidemiology
Note: 2023 data adjusted for partial year (data to June 2023)
Key Point: Unregulated drug deaths in Island health are trending worse than inFraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, and the province as a whole.
Figure 23. Rate of Unregulated Drug Deaths by Health Service DeliveryArea, Island Health and B.C. (2013–2023)
Source: Source: BC Coroners Service
Key Point: There are regional differences in the rates of unregulated drug deaths within Island Health
Figure 24A. Rate of Unregulated Drug Deaths by Sex, Island Health, (2016-2023)
Source: BC Coroners Service
Key Point: The rate of unregulated drug deaths are highest among men and young adults; the rate among youth has been relatively stable/or declining.
Figure 24B. Rate of Unregulated Drug Deaths by Age, Island Health, (2016-2023)
Source: BC Coroners Service
Key Point: The rate of unregulated drug deaths are highest among men and young adults; the rate among youth has been relatively stable/or declining.
Figure 26 - Mode of Consumption Among Unregulated Drug Deaths, Island Health(January 2022–December 2023)
Source: BC Coroners Service Unregulated Drug Deaths Dashboard
Note: Percentages can add up to more than 100% as individuals could have had multiple modes of consumption. Data is based on information gathered by the coroner which may include scene investigation, witness interviews, or a review of circumstances. Data is preliminary and subject to change.
Key Point: In preliminary data provided by the BC Coroners Service, smoking hasconsistently been the most common mode of consumption among unregulated drug deaths in 2022 and 2023.
Figure 29. Percent of Fentanyl Detected Unregulated Drug Deaths with Fentanyl Concentration >50µg/L in Island Health
Source: BC Coroners Service Unregulated Drug Deaths Dashboard
Note: Percentages can add up to more than 100% as individuals could have had multiple modes of consumption. Data is based on information gathered by the coroner which may include scene investigation, witness interviews, or a review of circumstances. Data is preliminary and subject to change.
Key Point: In preliminary data provided by the BC Coroners Service, smoking hasconsistently been the most common mode of consumption among unregulated drug deaths in 2022 and 2023.
Figure 31. Rate of Hospital Admissions Due to Stimulants, Island Health(2013–2023)
Source: Island Health Enterprise Data Warehouse, Discharge Abstract Database, compiled by Island Health Population Health Assessment, Surveillance & Epidemiology
Note: 2023 data adjusted for partial year (data to June 2023)
Key Point: While mortality due to stimulant use is much lower than due to opioid use, Hospitalizations due to stimulant use have increased five fold in the past decade.
Figure 35. Number of Injection and Inhalation Visits to Overdose Prevention Sites,Island Health (2020-2023)
Source: Data collected from OPS sites and compiled by Island Health PHASE team
Key Point: Since the introduction of inhalation spaces at overdose prevention sites(OPS) in 2020, the number of inhalation visits has continued to increase and in2023 accounted for nearly 80% of witnessed consumption visits.
Figure 40. Proportion of Respondents Who Reported Daily or Occasional Smoking of Cigarettes, Island Health, B.C., and Canada (2007–2020)
Source: Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey. *2019/2020 obtained from data from Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0113-01 Health characteristics, two-year period estimates; data includes respondents ages 12+ who reported current daily or occasional smoking
Key Point: Decades of regulatory approaches have resulted in a substantial declinein tobacco smoking.However, smoking continues to be higher in Island Health than in BC and higher than the Canadian goal (5%).
Figure 42. Youth cigarette smoking is declining in Island Health, with 20% of youthreporting ever smoking tobacco in 2023 compared to 24% in 2018
Source: Data provided by McCreary Centre Society, BC Adolescent Health Survey, 1992 through 2023
Key Point: Youth cigarette smoking is declining in Island Health, with 20% of youth reporting ever smoking tobacco in 2023 compared to 24% in 2018.
Figure 43. Youth Who Reported Vaping in the Past Month Compared to Ever Smoking Tobacco, B.C. and Island Health (2018)
Source: Adapted from Smith et al., 2020, Understanding tobacco use and vaping among BC youth: Findings from the BC Adolescent
Key Point: Vaping continues to be more common among youth than smoking tobacco.
Figure 44. Percentage of Regional Health Survey Respondents who currently smoke, Island Health (2015-2017)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: In 2021, the majority of Island Health residents reported never using cannabis in the past 12 months.
Figure 47. Cannabis Use in the Past 12 Months by Age Group, Canada (ProvincesOnly) (2011–2021)
Source: Statistics Canada, 2023, Research to insights: Cannabis in Canada
Notes: The red line refers to the enactment of the Cannabis Act (October 17, 2018). Error bars represent the lower and upper 95% confidence interval.
Key Point: Across Canada, overall reported cannabis consumption has increased moderately since legalization in October 2018.
Figure 48. Frequency of Cannabis Use in the Past 12 Months by Age Group, Island Health (2021)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: In Island Health, approximately half of young adults (18-29) use cannabis. Among other age groups, the majority of people report not using cannabis.
Figure 49. Youth Who Have Ever Used Cannabis, Island Health, (1992-2023)
Source: Data provided by McCreary Centre Society, BC Adolescent Health Survey, 1992 through 2023
Key Point: The proportion of youth who have tried cannabis has decreased since legalization.
Figure 50. Frequency of Cannabis Use Compared to Before the Pandemic by Age Group, Island Health (2021)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: When Island Health residents were asked how their frequency of cannabis use changed compared to before the pandemic, the highest proportion of respondents who reported increased use were in the 18–29 age group (24%).
Figure 51. Frequency of Cannabis Use in the Past 12 Months by Health ServiceDelivery Area (HSDA), Island Health (2021)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: In 2021, the majority of Island Health residents reported never using cannabis in the past 12 months.
Figure 52. Frequency of Cannabis Use Compared to Before the Pandemic by Health Service Delivery Area (HSDA), Island Health (2021)
Source: SPEAK Round 2
Key Point: Of those who did report using cannabis in the past 12 months, nearly 30%in South and Central Island reported using more than before the pandemic, compared to 21% in North Island.
Figure 54. Rate of Cannabis-Related Hospital Admissions, Island Health(2013–2023)
Source: Island Health Enterprise Data Warehouse, Discharge Abstract Database, compiled by Island Health Population Health Assessment, Surveillance & Epidemiology
Note: 2023 data adjusted for partial year (data to June 2023)
Key Point: Between 2018 and 2019, the rate of cannabis-related hospital admissions decreased. Similar to trends observed for other substances during the pandemic, the rate of cannabis-related hospital admissions increased between 2019-2021 and while it has since decreased, it has yet to come down to pre-pandemic levels.