With regard to prevention, I have been a member of several groups whose purpose was to inform and help other first responders, that is to say police officers, firemen and paramedics, so as to increase their awareness regarding certain substances. The misuse of prescription drugs is a relatively recent phenomenon. It has become a much bigger issue over the past two or three years. This danger has now become much more prevalent. This led us to take action. I say “we”, but I am referring to police officers in general, from one end of the country to the other. This includes the RCMP, the Sûreté du Québec, as well as Ontario police forces.
The investigator's courses and those on prevention are all given at the Canadian Police College and the Ontario Police College. I am an instructor at both these colleges, and prescription drugs are one of the important topics I discuss.
At higher levels, it is up to the department to undertake prevention activities in schools. I can tell you that the RCMP does this in schools and with the general public. We try to improve people's knowledge of this issue.