Anxiolytic and hypnotic drug misuse in Thailand: findings from a national household survey.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

The non-medical use of prescription drugs, such as anxiolytics and hypnotics, has become a growing public health problem in Thailand. The objective of this study was to examine the patterns of non-medical use of these drugs, using data from a nationally representative sample of Thais interviewed in 2007.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A nationwide, multi-stage, household survey of 26 633 respondents aged 12-65 years living in 11 348 households throughout Thailand using a face-to-face structured interview questionnaire was carried out.

RESULTS

In 2007, 1.58% (734 288) and 1.58% (733 318) of Thais indicated that they had misused anxiolytics or hypnotics, respectively, at some time during their lives. Less than 1% had misused these drugs during the 12 months preceding the interview (426 170 or 0.92% for anxiolytics, 372 920 or 0.80% for hypnotics), fewer during the preceding 30 days (234 871 or 0.50% for anxiolytics, 225 638 or 0.48% for hypnotics).The highest prevalence of past 30 day use was in Bangkok, the lowest in Southern Thailand. More women than men, older than younger respondents, and subjects who considered they were in poor physical health or had emotional problems than those who thought otherwise used the drugs during the 30 days before the interviews.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of anxiolytic/hypnotic misuse/abuse appears to be lower than that reported from more developed countries, but a small increase in problems resulting from the use of these substances has a disproportionately large effect on the overstretched resources of a developing country.