Furthermore, the early onset of substance use can affect the development of the brain, creating the risk for increased use and addiction later in life. [...] The increasing rate of prescription drug abuse, which rose from 3.2% in 2011 to 6.5% in 2012, may be attributed to the increased availability of such drugs, as a result of their wider use in the treatment of chronic pain, the development of new slow-release formulations, and the public perception that they 40 are safer than illicit drugs. [...] Launched in 2011, the Framework is intended to guide changes to the NNADAP/NYSAP programs in order to better address key emerging substance-use issues facing First Nations and Inuit communities, including: the need for better coordination of services and supports across jurisdictions; the emergence of prescription drug abuse; and the unique treatment needs of certain populations (e.g., youth [...] The Framework articulates a vision for the renewal of the NNADAP/NYSAP system as a comprehensive continuum of services and supports that recognizes the connection between mental health and addiction issues. [...] Both legal and illegal psychoactive substances will continue to pose challenges to policy-makers as they seek to find a balance between the medical benefits of these substances and their potential harms, as reflected in the cases of both medical marijuana and the rise of prescription drug abuse in Canada.