Cannabis Use Patterns and Behaviours During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: A Multi-Wave Analysis of the National Cannabis Survey
Hathaway, A., Cullen, G., Cristiano, N., Wrathall, M., Walters, D., Tjeng, J., Wadsworth, E.
Rates of Covid-19 varied across Canada, with some areas being identified as “hot spots” due to prolonged outbreaks requiring stricter lockdown measures. The potential impacts of these measures (i.e., stress, anxiety, isolation, boredom, loneliness, and changes in daily routines) are all factors linked to higher rates of cannabis and other substance use. While existing research has examined the overall impact of Covid-19 on cannabis use at the national level, it is not yet known whether this impact varies across jurisdictions. The current research examines whether the Covid-19 pandemic has had a differentiated impact on cannabis use patterns and behaviours across Canada. The objective is to compare differences in prevalence and frequency of cannabis use in relation to Covid-19 rates across health regions. The data, drawn from Statistics Canada’s 2018, 2019, and 2020 National Cannabis Survey (NCS), suggests that use of cannabis and frequency of use were higher in health regions with higher Covid-19 rates. The findings support the need for educational initiatives that further harm reduction aims in populations vulnerable to social dislocations magnified by the pandemic.