Map of Simcoe Muskoka

Alcohol & Drugs

Cannabis Health Effects - Youth

Key Messages
Technical Notes

Key Messages

  • In 2019, 86% (83.8%, 88.5%) of Simcoe Muskoka adults (18 years and older) agreed with the statement “smoking marijuana during adolescence or young adulthood can lead to lung damage”. This was significantly higher than the 80% (76.7%, 82.6%) that agreed with the same statement in the 2018 survey.
  • Also in 2019, 81% (77.4%, 83.4%) agreed with the statement “daily or almost daily cannabis use during adolescence or young adulthood can lead to difficulty in concentrating”. This was similar to what was reported in the 2018 survey.
  • Approximately three-quarters (74% (70.5%, 77.1%)) of adults agreed that “daily or almost daily cannabis use during adolescence or young adulthood can lead to addiction”. This was unchanged from the 2018 survey.
  • When asked their level of agreement with the statement “daily or almost daily cannabis use during adolescence or young adulthood can lead to memory loss”, 73% (69.6%, 76.2%) agreed with the statement. This was similar to what was reported in the 2018 survey.
  • Approximately two-thirds (68% (64.8%, 71.7%)) of adults agreed that “daily or almost daily cannabis use during adolescence or young adulthood can lead to long-term mental health conditions”. This was significantly higher than the 62% (58.9%, 65.9%) that agreed with the same statement in the 2018 survey.

CannabisHealthEffectsAdolescence

Technical Notes

Information presented on this page is from the 2018 and 2019 Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), unless otherwise specified. RRFSS is a telephone based survey of adults 18 years and older that live in Simcoe County or the District of Muskoka. Approximately 1,200 randomly sampled adults in Simcoe Muskoka were surveyed in each of the 2018 and 2019 RRFSS surveys. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (formerly the Simcoe County District Health Unit) has been participating in RRFSS since 2001.

The data presented in the text and chart above was analyzed by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) using the 2018 and 2019 RRFSS data administered by the Institute for Social Research at York University in Toronto, Ontario. The contents above and interpretation are solely the responsibility of SMDHU.

Further Reading

For more information about cannabis use:

Page Last Modified: July 3, 2020