The objective is clear: to put an end to bad practices. “Medicines are not ordinary products, do not take them lightly”: the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) is launching a general public campaign on Wednesday June 7 on their proper use. “We are the biggest consumers of drugs in Europe, which makes this issue all the more important”, had underlined the day before, 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, bad practices are legion. A few figures: 3 out of 10 French people adapt, by themselves, the doses or the durations of taking the drugs that have been prescribed to them. 1 in 5 takes higher doses or more products at the same time to relieve symptoms faster. Nearly 1 in 2 do not hesitate to give medication to a loved one when they have symptoms similar to their own; 1 in 10 even do so often, even systematically. And 34% of French people consider it rather not risky or not at all risky to take an expired medicine, when 63% keep unused medicines for future use.
Faced with such a finding, what are the good reflexes advocated by the ANSM’s digital campaign? First of all, respect the prescription or the advice of the healthcare professional (dose, frequency, duration, etc.). It should be noted that the French were still nearly 6 million without a treating doctor at the end of 2022, according to the latest figures from Medicare. It is contraindicated to stop treatment before the recommended date, even if the symptoms are no longer felt. Indeed, it is not because you feel healed that the cause of the treatment has completely disappeared.
For example, antibiotics must be taken at a specific time in the case of certain illnesses. Also, it is recommended to use only drugs prescribed or recommended by a health professional, and not by a loved one. Self-medication should also be avoided, especially since taking an unknown pharmaceutical product may present contraindications and pose a risk of allergy. A study by the polling institute Ifop for the Biogaran laboratory, published in April 2023, indicated that 88% of French people had used non-prescription drugs in 2022, they were only 58% twenty years earlier, in 2002. Among the reasons mentioned: to relieve pain , waiting too long to get an appointment with a GP (57%) or the impossibility of advancing consultation fees (29% of respondents).
Discuss your different treatments with your doctor
It is also not recommended to play apprentice doctors with your child. Their medications have their own dosage and their treatment should not be replaced by that of an adult. Indeed, medicines for the little ones are based on their weight. No initiative should be taken outside the medical office. And when you are with your healthcare professional, tell them about the different medications you are taking. Even if these products are over the counter in pharmacies, such as essential oils or throat lozenges.
Another false good idea: throwing away the packaging of its capsules is a mistake. If you put them in the trash, you risk losing valuable information, such as their expiration date. The pictograms on the box can also be useful for knowing risky behavior, especially if you are pregnant or if you are driving. And, finally, pay attention to the terms and shelf life of the drugs. These must be returned to the pharmacy when they are expired or not used. They should not be thrown in the trash or down the toilet. Failure to follow these instructions can reduce the effectiveness of the drugs, cause adverse effects, or even worsen the disease, underlines the ANSM.
The misuse of drugs is a “major public health issue”, according to its general manager, Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil. “Even paracetamol can be dangerous: in the event of an overdose, the person risks their life”, warns Catherine Simonin, of France Assos Santé, associated with the Internet campaign which will be broadcast until the end of the year on social networks. , streaming platforms, news sites… It comes in four messages: “A series, it stops when you want it, not the drugs”; “A drill, it lends itself between neighbors, not the drugs”; “Spices work well when you mix them, drugs don’t”; and “A mummy can be kept forever, drugs cannot”. It is up to the French to choose the one that speaks to them the most.