{"id":1214,"date":"2013-03-27T15:52:20","date_gmt":"2013-03-27T15:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nnadaprenewal.ca\/?page_id=1214"},"modified":"2013-03-27T16:56:31","modified_gmt":"2013-03-27T16:56:31","slug":"first-do-no-harm-responding-to-canadas-prescription-drug-crisis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nnadaprenewal.ca\/?page_id=1214","title":{"rendered":"First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada\u2019s Prescription Drug Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ottawa, March 27, 2013<\/strong> \u2014 The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse<\/span> (CCSA), in partnership with the National Advisory Council (NAC) on Prescription Drug Misuse, today released a comprehensive 10-year, pan-Canadian strategy, First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada\u2019s Prescription Drug Crisis<\/span><\/strong>. The strategy highlights the action required to address the devastating harms associated with prescription drugs in Canada in the areas of prevention, education, treatment, monitoring and surveillance, and enforcement. Prescription drug use is everyone\u2019s issue and touches the lives of Canadians across our country.<\/p>\n

\u201cHarms such as addiction, overdose and death associated with certain prescription drugs \u2014 opioids<\/span>, sedatives and tranquilizers<\/span>, and stimulants<\/span> \u2014 are a leading public health and safety concern in Canada that has now reached crisis proportions,\u201d stated Michel Perron<\/span>, Chief Executive Officer, CCSA and NAC Co-Chair.<\/p>\n

The number of opioid-related deaths is increasing, emergency room visits are on the rise and there are increased demands for treatment. Canada now ranks as the world\u2019s second largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids, with the United States ranked as number one (International Narcotics Control Board, 2013). Canada\u2018s rate of use increased by 203% between 2000 and 2010, an increase steeper than in the United States (International Narcotics Control Board).<\/p>\n

When prescribed and used appropriately, opioids, sedatives, tranquilizers and stimulants have therapeutic benefits for people experiencing pain or those with certain illnesses. The NAC is working towards a Canada that allows for the benefits while minimizing the harms associated with prescription drugs.<\/p>\n

Many people dependent on these drugs might have initiated their use through prescribed therapy. Others use these drugs entirely for non-medical purposes. The human impact of addiction, withdrawal, overdose and death is devastating. Harms can result in road crashes, accidental overdoses and suicide, and are borne by individuals, families, communities, as well as by health care, social services, public safety services and society at large.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Government of Canada recognizes that the abuse of prescription drugs is a serious health and safety issue that is having a devastating effect on individuals, families and communities across Canada,\u201d said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq<\/span>, Minister of Health. \u201cAs this report makes clear: prescription drug abuse is an issue that governments, professional associations and other stakeholders all have a responsibility to help address. Our Government is committed to doing its part and will review the recommendations put forward by the CCSA.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is currently no information on the costs of prescription drug misuse and harms in Canada. Recent research from the U.S. estimates the annual cost of the non-medical use of prescription opioids to be more than $50 billion, with lost productivity and crime accounting for 94% of this amount (Hansen et al., 2011). To effectively address the issue, it is imperative that the direct and indirect costs of prescription drug misuse and harms be quantified, both across the Canadian healthcare system and within society.<\/p>\n

First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada\u2019s Prescription Drug Crisis<\/strong><\/span> is a national strategy to address prescription drugs that have legal status and therapeutic uses, but also a high potential for harms. Developed by the CCSA, in collaboration with NAC, this national initiative has brought together the best minds devoted to all aspects of prescription drugs, including a variety of health practitioners (physicians, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and coroners), patient and family organizations, First Nations representatives, enforcement officials, regulators, industry leaders and researchers. Specific attention is devoted to First Nations, rural and geographically isolated communities to highlight their unique needs.<\/p>\n

Strategy Recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The recommendations were developed around five streams of action: Prevention, Education, Treatment, Monitoring and Surveillance, and Enforcement. In addition to the five streams, three other areas cut across all streams and are important to this work: legislation and regulations, research, and evaluation and performance measurement.* The recommendations aim to:<\/p>\n