The financial burden of out of pocket prescription drug expenses in Canada.

Pharmaceutical expenditures account for approximately 15.9 % of total health expenditures in Canada. Unlike hospital and physician services, in which costs are universally covered, most pharmacological therapy does not fall under the umbrella of 'medically necessary' services set out by the Canada Health Act, and therefore is funded through a mix of public and private plans.

Globalization and the rise of precarious employment: the new frontier for workplace health promotion.

Global market integration over the past three decades has led to labour market restructuring in most countries around the world. Employment flexibility has been emphasized as a way for employers to restructure their organizations to remain globally competitive. This flexibility has resulted in the growth of precarious employment, which has been exacerbated by the global financial crisis and resulting recession in 2007/2008, and the ongoing economic uncertainty throughout much of the world.

Prevalence and risk indicators of alcohol abuse and marijuana use among on-reserve First Nations youth.

The objectives of the present study were to identify the prevalence of alcohol abuse and marijuana use among First Nations youth living on-reserve, and to identify independent risk indicators associated with these behaviours. Two hundred four students from the Saskatoon Tribal Council (Saskatchewan) who were enrolled in grades 5 through 8 were asked to complete a school health survey. The prevalence of alcohol abuse and marijuana use among First Nations on-reserve youth was 23.