Aberdeen University’s research shows frequency of addiction to OTC medicines

Currently, participants are being sought for a new phase of a trial designed to measure the prevalence of addiction to OTC medicines.

The University’s PhD student in Academic Primary Care, Niamh Fingleton has completed the first ever survey to measure the prevalence of addiction to these non-prescription drugs.

These OTC drugs include paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine-containing painkillers and smoking cessation products.

Niamh said: "This is a completely new study. No-one has ever looked at the prevalence of addiction to over-the-counter medicines in the general population before.

"This is an important issue to understand because long-term continual use of some of these products can have physical and psychological consequences such as liver and kidney damage."

Initial phase of the trial included a UK-wide survey carried out in 972 people of the general population who received questionnaires asking about their use of OTC drugs.

Of those that responded 2% said that they were currently or previously addicted to these OTC medications and more than half of those addicted these drugs had not sought any help for their addiction.

Niamh said: "People who are addicted to these types of medicines may not seek help for many reasons – perhaps they are unaware of the potential dangers associated with these products because they are available without a prescription or don’t know where to seek help from.

"Others may not want to approach services which usually treat people who are addicted to illegal drugs."

"It’s important that we understand what helps and hinders people to seek treatment so that seeking help is easier for others in the future."

The project’s next stage is to understand what prompts people to seek help or avoid seeking help for OTC o medicine addiction issues.

Currently, supervisors in this project are recruiting volunteers to participate in this new phase of the research.