Spatial Patterns of Drug Use and Mental Health Outcomes Among High School Students in Ontario, Canada

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Mental illness and addiction have been linked to the places where people live or work (Dohrenwend and Dohrenwend 1971; Faris and Dunham 1939; Freeman 1994; Kessler 1979; March et al. 2008; O’Campo et al. 2009; Peterson et al. 2009; Silver et al. 2002; Wilson and Rosenberg 1992). An increasing number of studies have examined and confirmed the impact of environment and community (e.g., neighbourhood socioeconomic status) on physical health, mental health or substance abuse (Goldsmith et al. 1998; Hobin et al. 2012; McKenzie and Harpham 2006; O’Campo et al. 2009; Ross 2000; Rush et al. 2007; Silver et al. 2002). As an integrated discipline, health geography investigates how the natural and social environment influences people’s health. Spatial analysis has been widely used to examine health in relation to geographical locations. This approach can be used to identify priority health topics, distribute health resources, or place health facilities at optimal locations (Joseph and Phillips 1984; McLafferty and Grady 2004; Meade and Earickson 2000). …