Saskatchewan has the highest rate of hospitalization of youth due to substance abuse. The Canadian Institute of Health Information says we have a rate of 667 per 100 thousand population, involving youth between the ages of 10 and 24. Cannabis is the main culprit followed by alcohol and stimulants. The latter could include methamphetamine, and Ritalin, prescribed for ADHD. According to the institute’s report, of the youth who stayed in hospital for cannabis use, 81 per cent received care for mental health issues and 49 per cent of opioid-related stays also involved care for mental health treatment.

Spokesperson Jean Harvey says the data shows only the tip of the iceberg because visits to emergency rooms, family doctor’s offices and addiction entries are not included. Neither is information on deaths from overdoses. Across Canada, 23,500 people in that age group were hospitalized for harm caused by substance abuse between April 2017 and March 2018.