Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue?
Introduction: Misuse of prescription medicines and the harms associated with such use are growing threats across the world. There is currently, however, limited data on the extent of prescription medicine misuse in Singapore and whether this is a current threat in the country. Methods: An online sur...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer – Medknow Publications
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Singapore Medical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2020024 |
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| _version_ | 1823861016939724800 |
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| author | Wui Ling Chan Paul Ivor Dargan Colleen Michelle Haynes Jody Lynn Green Joshua Curtis Black Richard Charles Dart David Michael Wood |
| author_facet | Wui Ling Chan Paul Ivor Dargan Colleen Michelle Haynes Jody Lynn Green Joshua Curtis Black Richard Charles Dart David Michael Wood |
| author_sort | Wui Ling Chan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction:
Misuse of prescription medicines and the harms associated with such use are growing threats across the world. There is currently, however, limited data on the extent of prescription medicine misuse in Singapore and whether this is a current threat in the country.
Methods:
An online survey, limited to 1,000 individuals (aged 21 years and over) who were residents in Singapore, was administered through a survey panel company in September 2015. The survey collected information on participant demographics, and their awareness, self-reported lifetime and past-year misuse of commonly available prescription medicines in Singapore as well as the use of a range of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPS).
Results:
Lifetime (6.7%) and past-year (4.8%) misuse of any prescription medicine was comparable to lifetime (6.0%) and past-year (3.0%) use of any recreational drugs/NPS. The top five prescription medicines for lifetime misuse were: diazepam (2.7%); codeine (2.3%); dhasedyl (promethazine, codeine and ephedrine; 1.6%); panadeine (paracetamol and codeine; 1.5%); and methylphenidate (1.2%). The top five drugs for past-year misuse were: diazepam (1.6%); codeine (0.9%); panadeine (0.7%); alprazolam (0.6%); baclofen (0.6%); and gabapentin (0.6%).
Conclusion:
Misuse of prescription medicine in Singapore was common, with prevalence comparable to the use of recreational drugs/NPS. A common source for misused drugs was physicians. Further studies are required to determine whether this is more widespread in Singapore and establish the different forms of drug diversion, so that appropriate prevention strategies can be implemented. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2e4ed6a855dc4eb3b6700fdd519fc204 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0037-5675 2737-5935 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer – Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Singapore Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2e4ed6a855dc4eb3b6700fdd519fc2042025-02-10T05:31:38ZengWolters Kluwer – Medknow PublicationsSingapore Medical Journal0037-56752737-59352022-10-01631057257610.11622/smedj.2020024Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue?Wui Ling ChanPaul Ivor DarganColleen Michelle HaynesJody Lynn GreenJoshua Curtis BlackRichard Charles DartDavid Michael WoodIntroduction: Misuse of prescription medicines and the harms associated with such use are growing threats across the world. There is currently, however, limited data on the extent of prescription medicine misuse in Singapore and whether this is a current threat in the country. Methods: An online survey, limited to 1,000 individuals (aged 21 years and over) who were residents in Singapore, was administered through a survey panel company in September 2015. The survey collected information on participant demographics, and their awareness, self-reported lifetime and past-year misuse of commonly available prescription medicines in Singapore as well as the use of a range of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Results: Lifetime (6.7%) and past-year (4.8%) misuse of any prescription medicine was comparable to lifetime (6.0%) and past-year (3.0%) use of any recreational drugs/NPS. The top five prescription medicines for lifetime misuse were: diazepam (2.7%); codeine (2.3%); dhasedyl (promethazine, codeine and ephedrine; 1.6%); panadeine (paracetamol and codeine; 1.5%); and methylphenidate (1.2%). The top five drugs for past-year misuse were: diazepam (1.6%); codeine (0.9%); panadeine (0.7%); alprazolam (0.6%); baclofen (0.6%); and gabapentin (0.6%). Conclusion: Misuse of prescription medicine in Singapore was common, with prevalence comparable to the use of recreational drugs/NPS. A common source for misused drugs was physicians. Further studies are required to determine whether this is more widespread in Singapore and establish the different forms of drug diversion, so that appropriate prevention strategies can be implemented.https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2020024benzodiazepinesdrug abusegabaergicsopioidsprescription medicine misuse |
| spellingShingle | Wui Ling Chan Paul Ivor Dargan Colleen Michelle Haynes Jody Lynn Green Joshua Curtis Black Richard Charles Dart David Michael Wood Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? Singapore Medical Journal benzodiazepines drug abuse gabaergics opioids prescription medicine misuse |
| title | Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? |
| title_full | Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? |
| title_fullStr | Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? |
| title_short | Misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in Singapore: an unrecognised public health issue? |
| title_sort | misuse of prescription medicines is as prevalent as the use of recreational drugs and novel psychoactive substances in singapore an unrecognised public health issue |
| topic | benzodiazepines drug abuse gabaergics opioids prescription medicine misuse |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.11622/smedj.2020024 |
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