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Doctors report drug dependence a significantly underestimated problem
According to the latest figures from the German Center for Addiction Issues (DHS), an estimated 1.2 to 1.5 million people in Germany depend on medicines. "The number of people who use drugs abusive - to lose weight, to stay awake or to increase their capacity - is probably just as big," the DHS continues.
The drug dependence is according to the DHS in Germany directly behind the tobacco in second place of all dependencies - even before the alcohol addiction. This is evident from the new "DHS Yearbook addiction 2017". In addition, there is a high degree of non-transparency in the area of drug dependence. This concerns especially the prescriptions of sleeping pills and sedatives, emphasizes Professor Dr. med. Gerd Glaeske from the University of Bremen in a statement for the press conference on the publication of the current DHS Yearbook.
Many Germans suffer from drug dependence. Sleep aids and painkillers are a particularly high risk here. (Image: Andrzej Tokarski / fotolia.com) Dangerous trend with the Z-drugs
The scientists of the DHS determined that certain means from the "Benzodiazepin family" (Valium and Co.) are prescribed numerically less than in the past. But at the same time there was a significant increase in the prescription of sleeping pills from the group of Z-drugs with the active ingredients zolpidem and zopiclone. 50% occurred, reports Professor Glaeske. These funds would also meanwhile increasingly prescribed on private prescription, especially for insured the statutory health insurance. Thus, private recipes for hypnotics are nowadays the rule rather than the exception. "They ultimately disguise a critical drug supply, because they are not systematically recorded and evaluated at any point," says Glaeske.
Obfuscation tactics of prescribing doctors?
The expert sees in the prescription of sleeping pills over private recipes above all a strategy of the prescribers to remain undetected in the statistics of the health insurance companies and to avoid unpleasant discussions about the continuous prescription of dependency-inducing drugs or possible recourse. Affected by these regulations were in particular people over the age of "65 years and two thirds of women." In this context, Professor Glaeske was also surprised that "stopped the funded by the Federal Ministry of Health surveys on drug use in the 64-year-olds."
Older people particularly at risk
From the age of 65, the problem of drug dependence really starts, Glaeske continues. Taking medicines every day leads to more and more active substances in the body and thus to increased effects and undesirable effects. For example, they suffer from impaired concentration and gait insecurity, the latter often associated with falls and hard-to-heal fractures.
Intransparency in the painkillers
The lack of transparency concerns, according to the Exptern not only the sleep and sedatives but also the painkillers. Here in Germany about 150 million packs of different painkillers per year are sold, of which, however, 106 million packs (about 70 percent) without a prescription directly in pharmacies. Often the buyers are patients who have already been prescribed painkillers by their doctors. "Pain therapy in Germany is thus dominated by analgesics of self-medication," says Professor Glaeske.
Advertising ban for painkillers?
The increase in the prescription of highly effective painkillers is also worrying because they are not always used where they are needed. "Osteoporosis pain or back problems do not have to be treated with strong, opioid-containing pain plasters, which can also lead to addiction, as well as respiratory depression and constipation (constipation)," stresses Professor Glaeske. All in all, it is necessary for the analgesic market to intervene, even if it is not in the interests of the pharmaceutical companies. An important step in the direction of prevention would, according to Glaeske, be a ban on advertising over-the-counter medicines with potential for abuse. Around 300 to 400 million euros would be invested in this area per year, which indisputably promotes sales. "It propagates brand names and portrays everyday situations in which painkillers maintain their ability to work, facilitate stress situations and make appointments for a visit to the cinema possible, despite the existence of a headache," says Glaeske. Problems would simply be swallowed up in the advertising world.
1.5 billion drug packages sold
According to Professor Glaeske, around 1.5 billion drug packages were sold in 2015, with only 50 percent being prescription-only and 50 percent being available at the pharmacy without a prescription. The total turnover of the pharmaceutical manufacturers was around 30.4 billion euros. Of the drugs that are commonly prescribed, about four to five percent have their own potential for abuse and addiction, especially the sleeping pills and sedatives with drugs from the family of benzodiazepines and the so-called Z-drugs such as zolpidem and zopiclone, Glaeske continued.
Even non-prescription medicines pose a risk
According to Professor Glaeske, ten to twelve percent of non-prescription drugs have potential for abuse. These drugs are mainly laxatives, certain analgesics, decongestant nose drops and sprays and alcoholic influenza and fortifying juices to count. Here, too little is reported in public about the unwanted side effects, although they can pose considerable risks, both for the addicts themselves and for relatives or work colleagues, emphasizes Glaeske. There are threats of withdrawal symptoms such as lack of concentration or aggression. The accident risk increases and the aggression can lead to violence and relationship problems in the family, in the circle of friends or at work.
Drug dependence and drug abuse, such as alcohol and drug dependence, must be discussed publicly and there must be preventive measures that benefit patients and consumers, according to Professor Glaeske. Lack of transparency is out of place in this area. It only benefits those who benefit from abuse and dependency, "and certainly not the patients and consumers," concludes Professor Glaeske. (Fp)