It seems that a daily cocktail or beer is turning into a habit for many Ontarians, while marijuana and prescription pill use is also on the rise.

A survey released by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says the number of Ontario adults that reported daily drinking increased to more than nine percent in 2009, up from 5.3 per cent in 2002.

The use of marijuana has also increased to 13.3 per cent in 2009, up from 8.7 per cent in 1996.

“These increases are of concern to us,” said Dr. Robert Mann, CAMH Senior Scientist. “We know that cannabis use may increase the risk of psychosis for people who are predisposed to schizophrenia, and may worsen the symptoms of other mental illnesses.”

The study is based on 2,037 telephone interviews with adults across the province. It’s part of a 32-year study tracking mental health and addiction trends.

The survey reports that more Ontarians are relying on anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications. The use of anti-anxiety medications has increased to seven percent from 4.5 per cent over the past 10 years. The use of anti-depressants has also nearly doubled, up to 6.6 per cent from 3.6 per cent in 1999.

"Though these are marked increases, they may also be showing that more people experiencing mental health problems are seeking and receiving help, which is a positive step," said Mann.

Despite the continuing stiffness of anti-drinking and driving laws, the study finds that among young adults, driving within an hour of consuming two or more drinks showed a "significant increase." Among 18 to 29 year olds, there was an increase from 7.7 per cent in 2005 to 12.8 per cent in 2009.

The study also stated there are regional factors that affect addictions. Those surveyed from Northern Ontario were most likely to smoke daily. Those in Toronto were least likely to drink alcohol, where those in the southwest part of the province reported the highest average number of drinks consumed per week