Health Canada’s CSTADS is conducted every two years to obtain critical information about health and health-related behaviours among Canada’s youth.

The 2021-2022 survey contains questions about tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, as well as bullying.

The participation of students who do not use tobacco or other substances is as important as the participation of those who do.

This survey is an important surveillance tool which provides timely and reliable data toward the development and evaluation of strategies, policies and programs aimed at reducing problematic substance use and related harms among Canada’s youth.

In our schools: each participating school receives their own report with results from the survey to guide internal action, along with a $200 honorarium.

In our provinces: provincial results inform policies, programs and intervention strategies.

In our country: trends are monitored over time and inform the development and evaluation of federal substance use policies and programs.

A representative sample of schools with students in grades 7 to 12 (Secondary I through V in Quebec) will be selected from across the 10 provinces.

Provincial ministries of education, school boards (where applicable) and schools will be contacted for their cooperation and support.

A consent process will take place before the survey is administered so that permission is obtained from parents/guardians of students who are under the age of consent.

On a date selected by the school, students will complete the survey over a 30 to 40-minute period in the classroom under the supervision of a teacher.

All survey materials and support for the survey will be provided to the school. Students can refuse to take part in the survey at any time with no penalty.

Responses are confidential and are never linked to the student.