Women tend to abuse the consumption of prescription drugs in self-medication. Painkillers, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, women more than men abuse these treatments without medical prescription.
Carried out in 17 countries, this study provides new information on the non-medical use of medications issued on prescription.
Consumption of prescription drugs is higher among women than among men in the general population, and girls tend to use non-medical prescription drugs more than boys.
In France, 15% of young women, against 8% of young men, would abuse prescription drugs, according to the study which draws its figures from a 2010 Health Barometer report. women in five (19%) would abuse these drugs against 7% of men, and in the Netherlands they would be 11% against 6% of men.
“The results of this study showed a significant difference by gender in self-medication,” says Professor Marilyn Clark of the University of Malta, coordinator of the research project written for the Control Cooperation Group. against drug abuse and illicit trafficking (Pompidou Group) of the Council of Europe.
The findings of the study also reveal that the consumption of medications prescription increases with age: the thirties represent a period of “more likely” risk. It also indicates that the most common source of prescription drugs is a doctor, but the next source is “a friend or relative” suggesting a relative ease of acquisition.
“Most of these countries take into consideration the non-medical use of prescription drugs in their national drug and drug policy, but neither in Europe nor in the Mediterranean region there is a standardized surveillance of the drug. ‘use of these’ concludes Professor Marilyn Clark, coordinator of the project.
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