New rules in Canada to address Rx drug abuse

To launch National Addictions Awareness Week, Canada’s Federal Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq, and Shelly Glover, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance, announced tough new licensing rules that aim to clamp down on the diversion of controlled release formulations of oxycodone products - prescription drugs that are at a high risk of abuse.

In a letter to her provincial and territorial counterparts, Ms Aglukkaq called on provincial and territorial governments, as well as medical professionals, to look at what they can do within their areas of jurisdiction to tackle the serious problem of prescription drug abuse.

"Our government is taking action to tackle prescription drug abuse," said Ms Aglukkaq, adding: "This is a serious issue that destroys the lives of individuals and families, and I believe we have the responsibility to work with the provinces and territories to address it head-on."