Government launches public campaign on the proper use of medicines

«

Drugs are not ordinary products, let's not take them lightly": the National Agency for Drug Safety (ANSM) launches Wednesday a public campaign on their proper use, a "major public health issue". "We are the largest consumers of drugs in Europe, which makes this issue all the more important," said Tuesday Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of the ANSM, presenting this campaign to the press.

According to a study conducted in 2021 for the ANSM by the Viavoice institute, three out of ten French people adapt, by themselves, the dose or duration of the drugs prescribed to them. One in five French people takes higher doses or several medications at the same time to relieve symptoms faster. Nearly one in two French people gives a drug to a loved one because he has similar symptoms, one in ten even does it systematically or often. And 34% consider it rather not risky or not at all risky to take an expired drug.

Read alsoOpioid drugs: the danger of misuse

An "amplifying role" of social networks

Social networks play "an amplifying role" in this misuse, observed Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil. However, the consequences of misuse can be "deleterious", says the ANSM. For example, in case of overdose, paracetamol - one of the most commonly used drugs to relieve pain or to fight fever - can lead to serious liver damage, which may require transplants. Medications prescribed or advised for one person may be unnecessary or dangerous for another. Not respecting a dose or duration of treatment can also make it ineffective or even dangerous.

To "reach as many people as possible", the French Medicines Agency is launching a digital campaign, which will be available until the end of the year, on the internet, Youtube, social networks, streaming platforms and news sites. In a "offbeat" tone, it encourages you to adopt four good reflexes: respect the prescription or advice of the health professional (dose, frequency, duration, etc.); use only medicines prescribed or advised by a healthcare professional, and not by a relative; Do not take several medications at the same time without the advice of a healthcare professional. And finally, pay attention to the modalities and shelf life of drugs.