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West Vancouver MP wants people to lock up the medicine chest

West Vancouver MP John Weston takes on prescription drug misuse
pills
West Vancouver MP John Weston is calling attention to prescription drug abuse.

West Vancouver's MP John Weston is tackling the misuse of prescription drugs.

On Dec. 2, Weston met with key professionals and stakeholders in Ottawa to discuss how to raise public awareness of the issue.

Concern is growing after 23 people died from the pain medication fentanyl in 2013, up from eight deaths in 2011, said Weston.

According to Interior Health, people are dying from prescription opioid overdoses at the same rate they're dying from car accidents involving alcohol.

Approximately 15 per cent of students on the North Shore used prescription pills without a doctor's consent in 2008, according to the B.C. Adolescent Health survey.

"Not only is that alarming, but that's a negative trend because that number is up from nine per cent in 2003," said Weston.

The vast majority of youth who abuse prescription drugs get them from the family medicine chest, said Weston. Educating the public on safe and effective ways to dispose

of unused prescription drugs will hopefully help curb the problem, he said.

Last May's national prescription drug drop-off day was largely successful in raising public awareness, he said, but he'd like to see the program expanded.

Although drugs can be dropped off at pharmacies year round, Weston said the national drug drop-off day helped raise awareness about prescription misuse.

"We're hoping to have a specific day declared for not only 2014 but for the next few years," he said.

"With only a few days notice, over two tonnes of prescription drugs were collected last year," Weston said. "We want to ensure that people understand that the best way to dispose of unused prescriptions drugs is not down the toilet. They need to be taken back to participating pharmacies so they can be properly incinerated."

Weston is hoping that more people who are recovering from prescription drug abuse will share their battles to discourage others from falling into a similar trap.

"I see the growing trend of drug abuse as something that can pull us down and hurt individuals, families and communities."

Residents who wish to get rid of unused prescriptions can find a pharmacy near them that accepts drug drop-offs year-round by entering their postal code at healthsteward.ca.