Department of Biopharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan (UJ), Queen Rania Street, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, 39 Whatley Road Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom.
Int J Pharm Pract. 2024 Nov 14;32(6):461-469. doi: 10.1093/ijpp/riae045.
There is little known regarding prescription and nonprescription medicine nonmedical use (abuse and misuse) in Iraq, with limited treatment. Pharmacists could be a valuable source of information in the absence of any national monitoring system.
This study aimed to explore Iraqi community pharmacists' perspectives on prescription and nonprescription medicine abuse/misuse, including motives for use and how often they encounter people whom they think are misusing or abusing medicines.
A cross-sectional survey was undertaken between November 2020 and February 2021. Community pharmacists in Iraq were asked to complete a prepiloted self-administered questionnaire, distributed through online social media platforms.
300 pharmacists completed the questionnaire. The most commonly reported nonprescription drugs suspected of abuse/misuse were cough and cold medications (n = 80, 26.6%), topical corticosteroids (n = 54, 17.9%), and allergy products (n = 33, 11%). The most common reported prescription drugs suspected of abuse/misuse were systemic antibiotics (n = 111, 36.9%), gabapentinoids (n = 56, 18.6%), and moderate-weak opioids (n = 34, 11.3%). The most commonly method used by pharmacists to limit access to such drugs was responding that the requested medication was unavailable (n = 273, 51.7%), followed by advising on risks (n = 152, 33.2%).
Prescription/nonprescription medicine abuse and misuse are suspected in community pharmacies in Iraq. Current methods for controlling the problem are likely to be ineffective in the absence of prescription drug enforcement. Pharmacists could have a more proactive role in managing this issue, networking with other pharmacists, and referring suspected users to support.
伊拉克对处方和非处方药物的非医疗用途（滥用和误用）知之甚少，且治疗方法有限。在没有任何国家监测系统的情况下，药剂师可能是一个有价值的信息来源。
本研究旨在探讨伊拉克社区药剂师对处方和非处方药物滥用/误用的看法，包括使用动机以及他们认为经常遇到的滥用或误用药物的人。
2020 年 11 月至 2021 年 2 月期间进行了一项横断面调查。要求伊拉克社区药剂师填写一份预先编制的自我管理问卷，通过在线社交媒体平台分发。
300 名药剂师完成了问卷。报告的最常见的疑似滥用/误用的非处方药物为咳嗽和感冒药（n = 80，26.6%）、局部皮质类固醇（n = 54，17.9%）和过敏产品（n = 33，11%）。报告的最常见的疑似滥用/误用的处方药物为全身抗生素（n = 111，36.9%）、加巴喷丁类药物（n = 56，18.6%）和中弱阿片类药物（n = 34，11.3%）。药剂师限制获取此类药物的最常用方法是回复所需药物缺货（n = 273，51.7%），其次是告知风险（n = 152，33.2%）。
伊拉克社区药房中存在处方/非处方药物滥用和误用的情况。目前控制这一问题的方法在没有处方药物执法的情况下可能无效。药剂师可以在管理这一问题上发挥更积极的作用，与其他药剂师建立网络，并将疑似使用者转介给支持机构。
