May 2015
As part of the Government of Canada's comprehensive approach to address prescription drug abuse, the following six projects will receive federal funding to improve prescribing practices for prescription drugs that have a high risk of abuse or addiction.
These projects are national in scope and support the development of evidence-based practices for appropriate prescribing of the most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs: opioids, stimulants, sedatives and tranquillizers.
The $3.6 million over three years in funding is supporting the development of new, evidence-based guidelines, training and tools for physicians and other regulated healthcare professionals, such as nurse practitioners and pharmacists, who have the authority to prescribe or dispense drugs. These resources will improve education to healthcare professionals to help them prevent and address the abuse of prescription drugs. The new guidelines will also better prepare prescribers of pain and other medications, to do so in a safe, effective and appropriate manner.
