The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS) is a population survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12. The OSDUHS began in 1977 and is the longest ongoing school survey in Canada, and the second longest in North America. This self-administered, anonymous survey is conducted across the province every two years with the purpose of identifying epidemiological trends in student drug use, mental health, physical activity, and risk behaviour, as well as identifying risk and protective factors. Typically, the OSDUHS surveys thousands of students in over 150 elementary and secondary schools across Ontario.

This survey is important because it provides current and reliable information about the health risk behaviour, attitudes and beliefs of Ontario adolescents, and tracks changes over time. Findings from the OSDUHS have been widely used by health, education, and government officials in setting health priorities and facilitating preventative policies, programs and services that address youths' needs.

The OSDUHS began as a drug use survey, but is now a broader study of adolescent health and well-being. Topics covered include: tobacco, alcohol and other drug use and harmful consequences of use, mental health indicators, physical health indicators, health care utilization, body image, gambling and video gaming behaviours and problems, violence and bullying, criminal behaviours, school connectedness, and family life.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Toronto, ON: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

2011

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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 2011. Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), 1977 - 2011 [Canada] [public-use microdata file]. Toronto, Ontario: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [producer and distributor].

Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey OSDUHS

Cross-sectional

Institute for Social Research

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The 2009 OSDUHS employed a stratified (region and school type) two-stage (school, class) cluster sample design, and oversampled schools in northern Ontario and in six public health regions.

The 2009 school sample is based on a longitudinal sample commencing in 2001. The school sample selection occurred as follows:

a) To select the initial 2001 sample, schools were drawn from Ontario’s Ministry of Education and Training’s enrolment data, and were stratified according to the four design regions.
b) Within each regional stratum, a random selection of schools was chosen, separately for elementary/middle schools and secondary schools. Schools were selected with probability proportional to enrolment size (meaning that larger schools have a greater probability of being selected). The schools that participated in 2001 were invited to participate in cycles since then, including the 2009 cycle. In addition, in 2009 new schools were also selected for specific public health region over-samples.
c) If a selected school could not participate, or if it had closed, a replacement school from the same region was selected. The sampling frame for new schools and replacement schools was based on the Ministry of Education and Training’s 2006/2007 enrolment data (most recently available).

Self-administered questionnaire

Structured

Survey respondents

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The final sample size in 2009 was 9,112 students in grades 7 to 12 (65% of selected students) from 47 school boards, 181 schools and 573 classes. This sample represents about 1,023,900 Ontario students in grades 7 to 12.

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1977-2011

Canada

Ontario only

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1977-2011 and accompanying documentation, and summary reports.

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Currently, over 150 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows pursue their studies under the direction of scientists in the four research departments: Clinical Research, Neuroscience Research, the PET Centre, and Social and Epidemiological Research. Our trainees come from a variety of disciplines, and go on to become very influential contributors to the substance use and mental health field.

Aggregate data is available in table form through CAMH's publications and reports.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 2011. Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS), 1977 - 2011 [Canada] [public-use microdata file]. Toronto, Ontario: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [producer and distributor].

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