Can J Public Health. 2026 Apr 1. doi: 10.17269/s41997-026-01179-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Non-medical opioid (NMO) use is a serious issue among Canadian adolescents. Previous research has mainly focused on increases in opioid disorders and opioid-related mortality, while a focus on NMO use has been limited. Therefore, this study aims to examine how the reported NMO use changed over time among Canadian adolescents, focusing on three types of opioids: oxycodone, fentanyl, and other opioids (such as morphine, codeine, Tylenol #3). Additionally, this study will investigate demographic correlates of reported NMO use, including province of residence, age, Indigenous identity, sex, and urban/rural location.
METHODS: Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Survey data (2014-2015, 2016-2017, 2018-2019, and 2021-2022) were used. Adjusted logistic regression analyses, accounting for changes in respondent demographics, were conducted.
RESULTS: Overall adolescent reported past 12-month NMO use increased (2.5-3.2%) between 2014-2015 and 2021-2022. Specifically, past 12-month non-medical use of oxycodone (1.0-1.4%) and fentanyl (0.4-0.9%) increased over the study period, while use of other opioids declined slightly by 0.2% between 2018-2019 and 2021-2022. However, adjusted logistic regression analyses indicated that the odds of oxycodone use decreased between 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 (AOR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.86-0.90), whereas fentanyl use showed no significant change (AOR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.99-1.04). High school students, Indigenous-identifying, rural adolescents, and those in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec were particularly at higher odds.
CONCLUSION: These findings call for continued efforts to regulate and prevent NMO use, especially among adolescents who are more likely to engage in such behaviours.
PMID:41922664 | DOI:10.17269/s41997-026-01179-w
