More people who smoked ganja in the last year are deemed at high risk for dependence.

That’s according to findings of the 2023 National Drug Prevalence survey released yesterday.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says 66% of those persons were deemed at high risk. 

This is a 15% increase from the 2016 figure.

He says this is concerning.

The survey explored harmful and high risk patterns of substance abuse.

Dr. Tufton says harmful patterns of alcohol use showed among 16% of the population, the same level as the last survey seven years ago.

Harmful use is the most evident among the 25 to 35 age group.

The health minister says there was an increase in the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Daily use of tobacco went up by 4%, while current ganja use is most prevalent among the 18 to 25 age group.

Among those who smoke cigarettes, daily use increased by 5%, up from 7% in 2016 to 11.6% in 2023.