All Resources

Prescription drug misuse in Alberta : everyone’s problem

Description

The misuse and abuse of prescription drugs is harming too many Albertans. Ease of access and affordability of medications such as opioid pain relievers, stimulants, tranquillizers and sedatives,... More ≫

Description

The misuse and abuse of prescription drugs is harming too many Albertans. Ease of access and affordability of medications such as opioid pain relievers, stimulants, tranquillizers and sedatives, can quickly and easily lead to addiction. Compounding this ease of accessibility and affordability is the false perception that if a health care practitioner prescribes these medications, they are safe. This report from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health provides statistics on the prevalence of prescription drug use and misuse, outlines the main issues that need to be addressed, and provides four recommended actions to address the problem.

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“You are what you eat” : preventing the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children

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Marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages that targets children and families is having a harmful effect on the health of these populations. This report from the Office of the Chief Medical... More ≫

Description

Marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages that targets children and families is having a harmful effect on the health of these populations. This report from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health outlines why this should be of concern to Albertans, why action should be taken now, and possible steps that could be taken to address the problem.

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Let’s talk about the early years : early childhood development

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Current research has shown the strong connection between the early childhood years and life-long health, well-being, learning and behavior. This report from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer... More ≫

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Current research has shown the strong connection between the early childhood years and life-long health, well-being, learning and behavior. This report from the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health looks at the current state of research on early childhood development, discusses the roles of the family, the community and society in supporting early childhood development, calls for a focus on collecting appropriate data to help appropriately measure and improve initiatives to support childhood development, and ends with a look at possible next steps.

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The syphilis outbreak in Alberta

Description

The number of identified cases of syphilis increased significantly between 2000 and 2009, and has spread outside known high risk groups to the general population. The need to interrupt this... More ≫

Description

The number of identified cases of syphilis increased significantly between 2000 and 2009, and has spread outside known high risk groups to the general population. The need to interrupt this outbreak is compounded by the occurrence of babies being born with congenital syphilis. After a brief presentation of statistics on the spread of syphilis during this 10-year period, the report goes on to discuss steps that can be taken by individuals, the health care system, and government to contain the outbreak.

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A review of water fluoridation

Description

This report is a compilation of existing resources, materials and research that highlight key aspects of the water fluoridation debate. It was developed as a support to assist Medical Officers of... More ≫

Description

This report is a compilation of existing resources, materials and research that highlight key aspects of the water fluoridation debate. It was developed as a support to assist Medical Officers of Health in Alberta in dealing with queries on fluoridation. The report is being made widely available to help anyone interested to better understand the issue and to provide answers to questions about fluoridation. The report is not a systematic review of the literature, although references are made to previous systematic reviews and their findings.

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