The 2023 National Drug Prevalence survey has shown that alcohol, cannabis and tobacco remain the drugs mainly used by the Jamaican population.

The survey looked at drug use over lifetime, the past year and currently.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton who released the findings says 8 in 10 or 77 per cent of Jamaicans have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives.

He adds that the survey revealed that use among males is significantly higher than females across all measures – lifetime , past year and currently.

This is consistent with previous population studies including among secondary school students.

This mirrors what is happening globally where use of most psycho active substances is higher among males.

Doctor Tufton says there has been a narrowing of the gender gap in several societies, with a greater proportion of women using substances than in the past year.

The age of onset of use for males is age 16, two years earlier, than the age of onset of use among females which is age 18.

As it relates to lifetime prevalence of less popular substances, the numbers were very low.

He says the findings will help to guide policy and programmes.