Government of Canada releases four videos featuring personal accounts of those affected by prescription drug abuse
May 28, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta – Health Canada
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, today unveiled four promotional videos featuring personal stories from Canadians directly affected by prescription drug abuse. As part of the federal approach to combatting prescription drug abuse, these powerful videos aim to increase awareness of the effects of prescription drug abuse on the lives of youth and their families. Each video reflects the real life story of Canadians and the impact of prescription drug abuse on their family, and through a series of powerful images and testimonials, they tell the story of addiction; its consequences, treatment, and recovery.
Minister Ambrose and Health Canada would like to thank the families who have shared their story, as well as the Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres and the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres for their collaboration on these videos.
The Minister revealed the videos following a meeting with the Calgary Police Service, where she discussed opportunities for intervention, prevention and education relating to prescription drug abuse amongst youth.
Prescription drug abuse is a significant public health and safety concern in North America. Drugs like opioids, sedative-hypnotics and stimulants are legal and have proven therapeutic benefits when prescribed by an appropriate medical professional, but they also have a high potential for harms such as addiction, withdrawal, injury, and death.
This video campaign is one of several ways the Government is supporting initiatives to combat prescription drug abuse. The Government of Canada invests approximately $130 million a year to address addictions and drug abuse in Canada under the National Anti-Drug Strategy. These funds contribute to developing tangible and effective solutions to the problems of drug addiction. In 2014, the government committed over $44 million over five years to expand the focus of the National Anti-Drug Strategy from illicit drugs to include measures to address prescription drug abuse.
Over the past several months, the Government of Canada has taken a number of steps to address prescription drug abuse, including:
Quick Facts
Quotes
“Prescription drug abuse has devastating effects on individuals, families and communities. We can all learn from those who so bravely shared their stories through these videos. I want to personally thank the families who are sharing their story with Canadians in hopes of preventing others from the harm and sometimes fatal effects of prescription drug abuse. It is my hope that parents will watch these videos with their teens to open up a dialogue about prescription drug abuse.”
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
“Our Government has made it a priority to fight prescription drug abuse, and we are investing heavily in a range of initiatives to address this issue. I applaud the efforts of Calgary Police Service and the Alberta community members who are tackling this issue head on. By working together we will be able to curb this dangerous trend.”
The Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
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