In its 6th report on the use of city drugs, Epi-Phare – a body of public expertise in the epidemiology of health products – confirms the deterioration in the mental health of the French since the start of the health crisis. And for good reason, the report indicates a significant increase in the delivery and consumption of anxiolytics, hypnotics and antidepressants in France since March 2020.
6th report on the consumption of prescription drugs dispensed in the city
Since the start of the first containment linked to the Covid-19 epidemic in March 2020, the scientific interest group (GIS) EPI-PHARE formed by the ANSM and the Cnam has been analyzing the monitoring of the consumption of prescription drugs issued in the city based on data from the National Health Data System (SNDS). In his 6th report published this Friday, May 28, 2021, he takes stock of the situation for the period from March 16, 2020 to April 25, 2021. In addition, these new data cover all three waves of the epidemic. of Covid-19.
This shows a strong increase in the use of 3 classes of drugs: antidepressants, antipsychotics and hypnotics. Indeed, the report indicates increases in deliveries of + 5% to 13% depending on the drug, and increases in initiations of + 15% to + 26% compared to what was expected. This increase reflects, on the medical level, the major psychological impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the population and its social, professional and economic consequences, points out the report. According to Alain Weill, deputy director of Epi-Phare, “ There has been medicalization of anxiety disorders and sleep disorders “.
Increased delivery of antidepressants, antipsychotics and hypnotics
In detail, the report monitoring the consumption of prescription drugs dispensed in the city indicates that in one year (between March 2020, start of the first confinement until April 2021), there was an increase of:
- more than 1.9 million antidepressant dispensations,
- more than 440,000 dispensations of antipsychotics,
- more than 3.4 million deliveries of anxiolytics,
- more than 1.4 million deliveries of hypnotics (sleeping pills).
The report also mentions the CoviPrev survey carried out by Public Health France (for the period from April 21 to 23, 2021) in which we discover that 22% of French people suffer from a depressive state, 22% suffer from an anxiety state, 64 % of French people reported sleeping problems during the last eight days preceding the survey and that 9% of French people had had suicidal thoughts during the year.
