Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS)

Introduction

Health Canada is currently conducting a survey asking Canadians about their experience with alcohol, drugs and other substances - The Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS). Health Canada will contact at least 10,000 Canadians aged 15 years and older every year to interview them about this health issue.

The survey has two purposes:

1. To find out how many Canadians use alcohol, drugs and other substances.
2. To find out how many Canadians are affected by the use of these substances, even if they are not actually using them.

It is important that all Canadians asked to participate in the survey do so. This is the only way Health Canada can be sure the survey represents the voice of all Canadians. Information obtained from this survey will give decision makers and program developers an accurate portrait of the use and abuse of alcohol, drugs and other substances in Canada.

While many Canadians do not use any of these substances, every Canadian is at risk of being directly or indirectly affected by them. Canadians may be involved directly through their use or that of others (such as in drunk driving accidents). Canadians may also be involved indirectly as drugs and alcohol affect public safety and are associated with increased violence and crime. For these reasons, every Canadian's voice matters to Health Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of this survey?
   
   The survey has two purposes:
   
   
   • To find out how many Canadians use alcohol, drugs and other substances;
   • To find out how many Canadians are affected by the use of these substances, even if they are not actually using them.
   This data will also help solidify the evidence base available to the government, and help the government make informed decisions to help Canadians maintain and improve their health and to help people suffering from alcohol and drug issues.
2. How does Health Canada choose the people it surveys?
   
   Random digit dialling selects the household. Then, the surveyor asks to speak with the person living in the household who is 15 years or older and who has the next birthday.
3. Am I obligated to participate in this survey?
   
   Participation is strictly voluntary.
4. What if I don't use alcohol or illicit drugs?
   
   The survey will provide important information for Health Canada to determine the situation of all Canadians in relation to alcohol, drugs and other substances, not only the situation of users. Health Canada wants to draw a complete profile of the alcohol, drugs and other substances use and abuse situation in Canada.
5. What about my right to privacy? How will this data be used and stored?
   
   All information will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act. Personally identifiable information (such as telephone number, etc.) will not be transmitted to Health Canada. It will be used by the survey firm for this project only, and will be destroyed one year after the end of the data collection.
   
   Only group data will be published and all data that is released will have potential identifying information removed.
6. Some of the survey questions don't seem relevant to alcohol and drug use. Why is Health Canada asking these questions?
   
   Although some of the survey questions may not seem relevant to alcohol, drugs and other substance use, they all serve a purpose. Many questions look at variables to examine their potential link with alcohol, drugs and other substances use (e.g., physical health). Other questions are necessary to examine how the sample of respondents is representative of the Canadian population (e.g., postal code, income). Finally, some questions are used to examine how households were selected for the survey (e.g., number of phone lines in the household).
7. What's in it for me? What is the benefit of participating?
   
   Your participation will help solidify the evidence base available to the government. Your participation will help the government make informed decisions to help Canadians maintain and improve their health and to help people suffering from alcohol and drug issues.

Previous Statistics from the Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS)

• Highlights Report - 2011
• Highlights Report - 2010
• Highlights Report - 2009
• Highlights Report - 2008

For more information about the survey and its results, please write to the Office of Drugs and Alcohol Research and Surveillance, Controlled Substances and Tobacco Directorate, Health Canada, 123 Slater Street, Address Locator 3506D, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, or send an e-mail request to ORS_BRS@hc-sc.gc.ca.