Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies
IntroductionThe impact of a pandemic on the mental health of the population is to be expected due to risk factors such as social isolation. Prescription drug abuse and misuse could be an indicator of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Community pharmacists play an important role i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116337/full |
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| author | Maria Perelló Maria Perelló Karla Rio-Aige Karla Rio-Aige Pilar Rius Guillermo Bagaría Anna M. Jambrina Anna M. Jambrina Montse Gironès Francisco José Pérez-Cano Francisco José Pérez-Cano Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal |
| author_facet | Maria Perelló Maria Perelló Karla Rio-Aige Karla Rio-Aige Pilar Rius Guillermo Bagaría Anna M. Jambrina Anna M. Jambrina Montse Gironès Francisco José Pérez-Cano Francisco José Pérez-Cano Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal |
| author_sort | Maria Perelló |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe impact of a pandemic on the mental health of the population is to be expected due to risk factors such as social isolation. Prescription drug abuse and misuse could be an indicator of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Community pharmacists play an important role in addressing prescription drug abuse by detecting signs and behaviors that give a clearer indication that a drug abuse problem exists.MethodsA prospective observational study to observe prescription drug abuse was conducted from March 2020 to December 2021 to compare with data obtained in the previous 2 years, through the Medicine Abuse Observatory, the epidemiological surveillance system set up in Catalonia. Information was obtained through a validated questionnaire attached on a web-based system and data collection software. A total of 75 community pharmacies were enrolled in the program.ResultsThe number of notifications during the pandemic period (11.8/100.000 inhabitants) does not indicate a significant change compared with those from pre-pandemic period, when it was 12.5/100.000 inhabitants. However, the number of notifications during the first wave when lockdown was in place stood at 6.1/100,000 inhabitants, significantly lower than in both the pre-pandemic and the whole of the pandemic periods. Regarding the patient's profile, it was observed that the proportion of younger patients (<25 and 25–35) rose in contrast to older ones (45–65 and >65). The use of benzodiazepines and fentanyl increased.ConclusionsThis study has made it possible to observe the impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 on the behavior of patients in terms of use of prescription drugs through analysis of the trends of abuse or misuse and by comparing them with the pre-pandemic period. Overall, the increased detection of benzodiazepines has pointed out stress and anxiety generated by the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:17:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-514410282ddd48438590cb094f5fc30e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:17:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-514410282ddd48438590cb094f5fc30e2023-02-14T18:21:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-02-011110.3389/fpubh.2023.11163371116337Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmaciesMaria Perelló0Maria Perelló1Karla Rio-Aige2Karla Rio-Aige3Pilar Rius4Guillermo Bagaría5Anna M. Jambrina6Anna M. Jambrina7Montse Gironès8Francisco José Pérez-Cano9Francisco José Pérez-Cano10Manel Rabanal11Manel Rabanal12Manel Rabanal13Council of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainPhysiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainPhysiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, SpainCouncil of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainCouncil of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainPhysiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainDirectorate-General for Healthcare Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainCouncil of the Pharmacist's Association of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainPhysiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, SpainPhysiology Section, Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Research in Nutrition and Food Safety (INSA), Santa Coloma de Gramenet, SpainDirectorate-General for Healthcare Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, SpainIntroductionThe impact of a pandemic on the mental health of the population is to be expected due to risk factors such as social isolation. Prescription drug abuse and misuse could be an indicator of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Community pharmacists play an important role in addressing prescription drug abuse by detecting signs and behaviors that give a clearer indication that a drug abuse problem exists.MethodsA prospective observational study to observe prescription drug abuse was conducted from March 2020 to December 2021 to compare with data obtained in the previous 2 years, through the Medicine Abuse Observatory, the epidemiological surveillance system set up in Catalonia. Information was obtained through a validated questionnaire attached on a web-based system and data collection software. A total of 75 community pharmacies were enrolled in the program.ResultsThe number of notifications during the pandemic period (11.8/100.000 inhabitants) does not indicate a significant change compared with those from pre-pandemic period, when it was 12.5/100.000 inhabitants. However, the number of notifications during the first wave when lockdown was in place stood at 6.1/100,000 inhabitants, significantly lower than in both the pre-pandemic and the whole of the pandemic periods. Regarding the patient's profile, it was observed that the proportion of younger patients (<25 and 25–35) rose in contrast to older ones (45–65 and >65). The use of benzodiazepines and fentanyl increased.ConclusionsThis study has made it possible to observe the impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 on the behavior of patients in terms of use of prescription drugs through analysis of the trends of abuse or misuse and by comparing them with the pre-pandemic period. Overall, the increased detection of benzodiazepines has pointed out stress and anxiety generated by the pandemic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116337/fullCOVIDmedicine abuseobservatorydrugbenzodiazepinescommunity pharmacy |
| spellingShingle | Maria Perelló Maria Perelló Karla Rio-Aige Karla Rio-Aige Pilar Rius Guillermo Bagaría Anna M. Jambrina Anna M. Jambrina Montse Gironès Francisco José Pérez-Cano Francisco José Pérez-Cano Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal Manel Rabanal Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies Frontiers in Public Health COVID medicine abuse observatory drug benzodiazepines community pharmacy |
| title | Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies |
| title_full | Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies |
| title_fullStr | Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies |
| title_short | Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies |
| title_sort | changes in prescription drug abuse during the covid 19 pandemic evidenced in the catalan pharmacies |
| topic | COVID medicine abuse observatory drug benzodiazepines community pharmacy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1116337/full |
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