“Medicines are not ordinary products, do not take them lightly.” This Wednesday, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) is launching a general public campaign on their proper use. She considers this to be a “major public health issue”.
“We are the biggest consumers of drugs in Europe, which makes this issue all the more important,” said Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of the ANSM, on Tuesday, presenting this campaign to the press. But why launch this campaign? Are drugs more dangerous than you might think? 20 minutes takes stock for you.
Why launch this campaign?
The figures are alarming. 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 drugs at the same time to relieve symptoms more quickly. Nearly one in two French people give medicine to a loved one because they have 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 medicine.
Why can drug misuse be dangerous?
Medicines are not substances to be taken lightly. “There is always a notion of risk-benefit, a drug is never trivial,” insists Carine Wolf-Thal, president of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists. Medicines prescribed or recommended for one person may prove useless or dangerous for another. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or aspirin, which are among the most used treatments in self-medication, are for example prohibited in pregnant women. After the 5th month of pregnancy, a single dose can lead to the death of the future baby.
Not respecting a dose or duration of treatment can also make it ineffective, even dangerous. For example, in the event of an overdose, paracetamol – one of the most commonly used drugs to relieve pain or to fight fever – can cause serious liver damage, which may require transplants. “In the event of an overdose, the person risks their life,” warns Catherine Simonin, administrator at France Assos Santé, associated with the campaign. Once expired or poorly stored, medicines can also lose their effectiveness or be contaminated by bacteria.
What advice does the ANSM provide?
The digital campaign of the Medicines Agency will be available until the end of the year, on the Internet, YouTube, social networks, streaming platforms, news sites… In this one, the ANSM advocates four reflexes to adopt. It recommends respecting the prescription or the advice of the healthcare professional, whether on the dose, frequency or duration of the treatment.
It encourages the use of only drugs prescribed or recommended by a caregiver, and not by one of his relatives. She recommends not taking several medications at the same time without the advice of a professional. Finally, it invites us to pay attention to the terms and duration of conservation of medicines. A drug must be returned to the pharmacy when it is expired or not used. It should not be thrown in the trash or down the toilet.