Prevalence and Correlates of Prescription Drug Misuse in a Nationwide Population Survey in Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is a critical mental health issue relating to psychiatric morbidity. This study investigated the prevalence of PDM and its associated psychopathology and psychosocial factors in the general population in Taiwan. Methods: The survey randomly selected a representative sample >15 year-olds using the stratified proportional randomization method. The measurements included demographic variables, previous experience with PDM, self-rated physical and mental health, health self-efficacy, risk factors for suicidality, and psychological distress. Results: The weighted one-year prevalence of PDM was 8.5% (n = 180) among 2126 participants. Those with psychological distress and lifetime suicide ideation (23.3%) or suicide attempts (5.0%) were significantly associated with PDM. PDM was also prevalent among those with poorer self-rated health and lower self-efficacy. Insomnia (OR = 1.52), depression (OR = 1.77), and low self-efficacy (OR = 2.29) had higher odds of PDM after adjustment in the logistic regression model. Conclusions: Individuals who misused prescription drugs had a higher prevalence of psychological distress and suicidality and lower levels of self-rated health. Prescription drug misuse problems should be screened for early prevention when prescribing medications for people with insomnia, depression, or lower perceived health beliefs or conditions.

A Meta-Analysis on Misuse of Prescription/OTC Drugs: How Pharmacist Can Prevent and Manage Drug Abuse

“…Benzodiazepines, the most common misuse of prescription drugs. 22 There are 6.7% population who misuse the prescription drugs in their lifetime and 4.8% population who have past year misuse of prescription drug misuse. 24 The 8.5% population who misused prescription drugs had a prevalence of lower levels of self-rated health, psychological distress, and suicidality.…”

“…24 The 8.5% population who misused prescription drugs had a prevalence of lower levels of self-rated health, psychological distress, and suicidality. 22 The involvement of pharmacist in the opioid stewardship decreases the opioid prescription for unintended uses from 57.24% to 8.79% 30 and increase in the higher NSAID naloxone co-prescribing by 3.4%. to 37.2%.…”

“…The (Table 1) descriptions of involved studies were extracted and presented in which there are 6 studies showing outcome as prescription/OTC drugs misuse, [22][23][24][25][26][27] and other 6 studies reports the role of pharmacist in preventing and managing drug abuse. [28][29][30][31][32][33] The 5 studies were conducted at U.S.A. (n=20, 295, 79.59%), [26][27][28]30,32 2 studies from Australia (n = 1565, 6.14%), 31,33 1 each studies were conducted at Taiwan (n=2126, 8.34%) 22 , Singapore (n=999, 3.92%), 24 Switzerland (n = 344, 1.35%), 25 Nigeria (n = 98, 0.38%), 29 and India (n=72, 0.28%). 23 The 10 studies were Cross-sectional studies and 2 were Cohort Studies.…”