Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the European Union

Novak, Scott P. ; Håkansson, Anders LU ; Martinez-Raga, Jose ; Reimer, Jens ; Krotki, Karol and Varughese, Sajan (2016) In BMC Psychiatry 16(1). p.1-12
Abstract

Background: Nonmedical prescription drug use (NMPDU) refers to the self-treatment of a medical condition using medication without a prescriber's authorization as well as use to achieve euphoric states. This article reports data from a cross-national investigation of NMPDU in five European Countries, with the aim to understand the prevalence and characteristics of those engaging in NMPDU across the EU. Methods: A parallel series of self-administered, cross-sectional, general population surveys were conducted in 2014. Data were collected using multi-stage quota sampling and then weighted using General Exponential Model. A total of 22,070 non-institutionalized participants, aged 12 to 49 years, in 5 countries: Denmark, Germany, Great... (More)

Background: Nonmedical prescription drug use (NMPDU) refers to the self-treatment of a medical condition using medication without a prescriber's authorization as well as use to achieve euphoric states. This article reports data from a cross-national investigation of NMPDU in five European Countries, with the aim to understand the prevalence and characteristics of those engaging in NMPDU across the EU. Methods: A parallel series of self-administered, cross-sectional, general population surveys were conducted in 2014. Data were collected using multi-stage quota sampling and then weighted using General Exponential Model. A total of 22,070 non-institutionalized participants, aged 12 to 49 years, in 5 countries: Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden. Lifetime and past-year nonmedical use of prescription medications such as stimulants, opioids, and sedatives were ascertained via a modified version of the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Information about how the medications were acquired for NMPDU were also collected from the respondent. Results: Lifetime and past-year prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use was estimated for opioids (13.5 and 5.0 %), sedatives (10.9 and 5.8 %), and stimulants (7.0 and 2.8 %). Germany exhibited the lowest levels of NMPDU, with Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden having the highest levels. Mental and sexual health risk factors were associated with an increased likelihood of past-year nonmedical prescription drug use. Among past-year users, about 32, 28, and 52 % of opioid, sedative, and stimulant nonmedical users, respectively, also consumed illicit drugs. Social sources (sharing by friends/family) were the most commonly endorsed methods of acquisition, ranging from 44 % (opioids) to 62 % (sedatives). Of interest is that Internet pharmacies were a common source of medications for opioids (4.1 %), stimulants (7.6 %), and sedatives (2.7 %). Conclusions: Nonmedical prescription drug use was reported across the five EU countries we studied, with opioids and sedatives being the most prevalent classes of prescription psychotherapeutics. International collaborations are needed for continued monitoring and intervention efforts to target population subgroups at greatest risk for NMDU.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
prescription drugs, EU, Non-medical use
in
BMC Psychiatry
volume
16
issue
1
article number
274
pages
12 pages
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • pmid:27488186
  • wos:000382224100001
  • scopus:84984854025
ISSN
1471-244X
DOI
10.1186/s12888-016-0909-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
014337de-dce1-44f6-8f27-9df11d4fdb16
date added to LUP
2016-09-21 23:29:39
date last changed
2024-07-12 16:32:09
@article{014337de-dce1-44f6-8f27-9df11d4fdb16,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Nonmedical prescription drug use (NMPDU) refers to the self-treatment of a medical condition using medication without a prescriber's authorization as well as use to achieve euphoric states. This article reports data from a cross-national investigation of NMPDU in five European Countries, with the aim to understand the prevalence and characteristics of those engaging in NMPDU across the EU. Methods: A parallel series of self-administered, cross-sectional, general population surveys were conducted in 2014. Data were collected using multi-stage quota sampling and then weighted using General Exponential Model. A total of 22,070 non-institutionalized participants, aged 12 to 49 years, in 5 countries: Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden. Lifetime and past-year nonmedical use of prescription medications such as stimulants, opioids, and sedatives were ascertained via a modified version of the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Information about how the medications were acquired for NMPDU were also collected from the respondent. Results: Lifetime and past-year prevalence of nonmedical prescription drug use was estimated for opioids (13.5 and 5.0 %), sedatives (10.9 and 5.8 %), and stimulants (7.0 and 2.8 %). Germany exhibited the lowest levels of NMPDU, with Great Britain, Spain, and Sweden having the highest levels. Mental and sexual health risk factors were associated with an increased likelihood of past-year nonmedical prescription drug use. Among past-year users, about 32, 28, and 52 % of opioid, sedative, and stimulant nonmedical users, respectively, also consumed illicit drugs. Social sources (sharing by friends/family) were the most commonly endorsed methods of acquisition, ranging from 44 % (opioids) to 62 % (sedatives). Of interest is that Internet pharmacies were a common source of medications for opioids (4.1 %), stimulants (7.6 %), and sedatives (2.7 %). Conclusions: Nonmedical prescription drug use was reported across the five EU countries we studied, with opioids and sedatives being the most prevalent classes of prescription psychotherapeutics. International collaborations are needed for continued monitoring and intervention efforts to target population subgroups at greatest risk for NMDU.</p>}},
  author       = {{Novak, Scott P. and Håkansson, Anders and Martinez-Raga, Jose and Reimer, Jens and Krotki, Karol and Varughese, Sajan}},
  issn         = {{1471-244X}},
  keywords     = {{prescription drugs; EU; Non-medical use}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--12}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Psychiatry}},
  title        = {{Nonmedical use of prescription drugs in the European Union}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-0909-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/s12888-016-0909-3}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}