Federal Minister of Health Rona Ambrose announced nearly $8 million in funding to tackle prescription painkiller abuse across the country while in Hamilton Friday.
3.6 million dollars will go towards six projects to develop new evidence-based guidelines, while 4.28 million will go towards co-ordinating a national approach for the monitoring and surveillance of prescription drug use.
According to a study done in 2013, one in eight young people reported using a prescription drug for non-medicinal purposes, and approximately 70% said they got it from home.
Ambrose made the announcement during McMaster University’s Prescribing Practices Forum, which brings together regulatory authorities, health professionals, the government and experts to improve prescribing practices and reduce abuse.
Agencies/Canadajournal
Hmm, and how much funding is actually being allocated to help those who are addicted to the drugs these doctors have been prescribing causing the addiction in the 1st place? Rehabilitation services, mental health care, etc.