Evaluation of Medicine Abuse Trends in Community Pharmacies: The Medicine Abuse Observatory (MAO) in a Region of Southern Europe

Maria Perelló, Karla Rio-Aige, Rafel Guayta-Escolies, Pilar Gascón, Pilar Rius, Anna M. Jambrina, Guillermo Bagaria, Mercè Armelles, Francisco José Pérez-Cano and Manel Rabanal
Additional contact information
Maria Perelló: Barcelona College of Pharmacists, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
Karla Rio-Aige: Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Rafel Guayta-Escolies: Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Ramon Llull University, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
Pilar Gascón: Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Ramon Llull University, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
Pilar Rius: Council of the Pharmacist’s Association of Catalonia, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
Anna M. Jambrina: Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Guillermo Bagaria: Barcelona College of Pharmacists, 08009 Barcelona, Spain
Mercè Armelles: Directorate-General for Healthcare Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Francisco José Pérez-Cano: Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Manel Rabanal: Physiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: The misuse of medicines is a global public health concern that needs to be taken into consideration and requires actions across all government sectors and society. The aim of this study is to identify trends of drug abuse in Catalonia, a region of Spain located in the South of Europe. For this purpose, a questionnaire-based detection tool was created and implemented in 60 community pharmacies. Out of 548 questionnaires (98.4%), 64.2% of participants were men and the highest age proportion was 25–35 years (31.4%). Potential drug abuse was the highest in urban pharmacies (84.9%). The main drug class involved were benzodiazepines (31.8%), codeine (19.3%), tramadol (7.5%), methylphenidate (5.8%), gabapentinoids (5.8%), cycloplegic drops (4.4%), z-drugs (2.6%), piracetam (2.2%), dextromethorphan (1.6%) and clomethiazole (1.1%). The majority of drugs were requested without prescription (58.6%) and through probably forged prescriptions (23.7%). Slightly less than half (49.8%) of the patients request frequently to the pharmacist, especially in rural and mountain pharmacies (73.3% and 88.5%, respectively). A small proportion (10.8%) were requested with intimidation. Pharmacists only supplied in 21.7% of the cases. This study has demonstrated the suitability of the new detection system, being a useful approach to replicate in other locations with similar needs.

Keywords: medicine abuse; community pharmacy; drug related disorders; non-medical use; pharmacist intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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