Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in North America

Arrests, Convictions and Types of Offences in North America

CANADA
In 1989, there were 67,882 drug-related criminal offences and 44,650 Canadians were charged under the Narcotic Control Act (which covers offence primarily related to cannabis, cocaine, and heroin) and the Food and Drug acts (which cover controlled and restricted drugs). More than 60 per cent of all drug offences and 64 per cent of drug charges involved cannabis. More than 24 per cent of drug offences and 27 per cent of drug charges involved cocaine (HWC in press).

          Excluding cannabis, the Bureau of Dangerous Drugs reported 8,359 convictions in 1988 under the federal Narcotic Control Act, the Food and Drug Act and the Criminal Code. There were 1,138 reported thefts and other cases involving narcotic and controlled drugs and 768 convictions under the Narcotic Control Act for 'multiple doctoring' (patients going to several doctors to obtain illicit prescription drugs) (HWC in press).

            In 1990, 6,542 people were arrested for illegal drug possession (74 per cent possessed cocaine) and 5,396 persons were convicted (69 per cent for cocaine possession). Most of those convicted (80 per cent) are males and 42 per cent are over 30 years of age (U.N. 1990).

            The total number of people arrested for drug trafficking in 1990 was 5,492 (86 per cent for cocaine traffick). About 4,321 were convicted (81 per cent for cocaine traffick), of these 89 per cent were male and 41 per cent over 30 years of age (U.N. 1990).

USA
According to data from 1989, a total of 7,446 persons were arrested fot illicit drug possession, and 1,262 were convicted. Most of the arrests involved cocaine possession (4,066 cases), followed by cannabis (1,998 cases), stimulants (682) and heroin (546) (U.N. 1989).

            A total of 17,260 persons were arrested for illicit drug trafficking in 1989, and 13,783 were convicted. Most of the arrests involved cocaine trafficking (10,472 cases), followed by cannabis (2,740), stimulants (1,915) and heroin (1,480) (U.N. 1989).

            Most of the persons convicted for illicit possession or illicit drug trafficking were male and over the age of 30 (U.N. 1989).

            Alcohol and other drugs are associated with up to 50 per cent of spousal abuse cases, 50 per cent of traffic fatalities, 49 per cent of manslaughter charges, 69 per cent of drownings, 62 per cent of assaults, 52 per cent of rapes, 38 per cent of child abuse and 25-30 per cent of suicides (OSAP 1991).