A prescription medication is a pharmaceutical drug that legally requires a medical prescription to be dispensed.

The prescription drug medications that are most commonly abused include:

• Pain relievers
• Tranquilizers and sedatives
• Stimulants

Prescription drugs can be stolen and sold – the youth population is an especially high-risk group who can obtain medications for recreational use from your medicine cabinet.  The 2017 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey reported 10.6% of grade 7-12 students used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.  The #1 place they reported getting these prescription drugs was from the home.

• Take medications only as prescribed
• Do not share medications with others or use someone else’s medicine
• Keep medication in a safe and secure location
• Keep track of the quantity of medication in your home
• Dispose of expired or unfinished prescriptions at your local pharmacy

• Prescription drugs - Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Prescription drugs - Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
• First, do no harm: Responding to Canada’s prescription drug crisis - Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction