Advocacy group welcomes government focus on prescription drug abuse

Feb. 12, 2014 — The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) has welcomed the strong leadership shown by the federal government on the issue of prescription drug abuse in its budget released yesterday. The 2014 Economic Action Plan commits $44.9 million over five years to expand the focus of the National Anti-Drug Strategy (NADS) from illicit drugs to address prescription drug abuse.

"The issue of prescription drug misuse has reached crisis proportions in
Canada," said Michel Perron, CCSA's chief executive officer. "We are
very pleased the federal government has decided to increase its drug
strategy funding to take into account the additional efforts that will
be required to adequately address the situation."

Through its
commitment in the budget, the federal government is demonstrating its
support of the efforts of many stakeholders in dealing with this
critical health issue and following up on its pledge in last fall's
Speech from the Throne.

"We invite other levels of government to
follow the lead as demonstrated in yesterday's federal budget and
increase their financial commitment to address the issue of prescription
drug misuse," Perron said.

He also took the opportunity to
congratulate Health Minister Rona Ambrose for the leadership she has
shown on this issue since she took over the Health portfolio last
summer.

In March 2013, CCSA, in collaboration with more than 30
stakeholders, launched First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada's
Prescription Drug Crisis, a pan-Canadian response to the issue of
opiate, stimulant and sedative misuse. The strategy recognizes that
Canada's prescription drug problem is too complex, too significant and
too deeply rooted for any one group to tackle in isolation.

Dealing
with these challenges is the reason CCSA was formed in 1988 by an Act
of Parliament with all-party support to provide national leadership in
reducing the harms of alcohol and other drugs.

The Canadian
Centre on Substance Abuse changes lives by bringing people and knowledge
together to reduce the harm of alcohol and other drugs on society. It
partners with public, private and non-governmental organizations to
improve the health and safety of Canadians. CCSA activities and products
are made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.