CCENDU Issue 7 (Part 2): Stimulant Use and Related Harms in Canada — Drivers and Adaptive Responses

  • Illegal Drugs
  • Psychoactive Substances
  • Health Effects
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About this topic summary

This issue is the second of a special two-part series. Part 2 examines key factors driving stimulant use, what these trends mean for different groups of people and the responses being implemented to reduce harms.

Three key points of interest you will find in this document:

  1. Across all participating regions, the most reported drivers of stimulant use were accessibility, affordability and higher purity of methamphetamine at the retail level.
  2. Patterns of polysubstance use involving stimulants and opioids continue to evolve. Education on the risk of opioid overdose among people who use stimulants is essential, to ensure appropriate responses.
  3. Access to local drug supply information, and harm reduction and treatment services is critical to reducing stimulant-related harms.

Related Authors

Samantha King, PhD

Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise

  • Alcohol
  • Mental Health
  • Opioids
Read more

Raadiya Malam, MPH

Research and Policy Analyst

Area of Expertise

  • Cannabis
  • Drug Supply
  • Substance Use Costs
Read more

Related Publications

Newsletter
CCENDU Issue 6: Recent Trends in Opioid-Related Toxicity Deaths in Canada: Examining a Potential Decrease
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Topic Summary
CCENDU Issue 7 (Part 1): Stimulant Use and Related Harms in Canada - Recent Trends
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