Prescription medication use by Canadians aged 6 to 79.

Based on data from the 2007 to 2009 and 2009 to 2011 Canadian Health Measures Survey, this article provides national information about prescription medication use among community-dwelling Canadians. An estimated 41% of 6- to 79-year-olds who lived in private households reported taking at least one prescription medication in the past two days (current use). Generally, prescription drug use was higher among females and among people in poorer health, and increased with age.