Thank you.
Our committee recently undertook a study on the troubling rise in prescription drug abuse. We heard expert witness testimony from doctors, pharmacists, regulatory bodies, law enforcement officials, first nations leaders, and parents on the scope and severity of prescription drug abuse, as well as some suggested solutions to the problem.
One of the problems we kept hearing about was a lack of awareness among Canadians about the risks associated with prescription drugs that can be addictive. We also heard from experts that proper storage and disposal of prescription drugs was paramount to protecting against the un-prescribed consumption of these drugs. We heard in fact that teenagers in some communities actually go and grab a bunch of pills out of their parents' medicine cabinet and throw them in a bowl, and this is called a “pill party”, which is extremely dangerous.
Minister, the problem of prescription drug abuse is a problem that impacts many Canadians and their families. Can you inform this committee on the work being done to address the problem of prescription drug abuse in Canada?