An Annapolis Valley teenager who recently lost his cousin to a prescription drug overdose says something has to change – and soon.

Eric Schofield, 16, is on a mission to change the way prescriptions for painkillers are filled and how and when the drugs are administered.

His cousin, Katana MacDonald, died last week after taking methadone she had bought on the street from a diverted prescription.

Schofield tells Global News it’s far too easy to get hold of prescription drugs on the street in the Valley, and says the way the drugs are released needs to change.

“We’re hoping to get people to realize, and the pharmacies to realize, that they need to stop letting them take it home with and make them take it in front of them,” he said. “Don’t just given them the bottles to take home with them so they can’t just take it home and get high off it or selling it to get high of the drugs they do want.”

Schofield has launched a Facebook group in hopes of raising awareness about chronic prescription drug abuse in the Valley. The group has more than 5,600 followers so far.

“We ain’t going to stop until this is dealt with,” he said. “Through hell or high water we are going to make sure this is done with.”

RCMP are investigating MacDonald’s death, but have not laid charges.