Richest and poorest heaviest users of prescription drugs

Separated, divorced and widowed people consume the largest volumes of prescription drugs, while cohabiting and single people take the least amount.

The Government’s leading drug advisor, Dr Des Corrigan, said the high consumption rates reflected the "levels of stress" groups were experiencing, albeit for different reasons.

The survey, by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD), shows more than 20% on long-term state benefits (social class group E) have taken sedatives and tranquillisers at some stage in their lives. One in 10 have used the drugs in the past month.

Professionals, senior managers and top civil servants (social class A) are the second-highest users, with a consumption rate of 13% for sedatives and tranquillisers and 11% for anti-depressants.

The figures are even more stark when broken down by marital status.

Lifetime use of sedatives and tranquillisers stands at 26% for both divorced and widowed people and 22% for those separated. The figure for married people stands at 11%, cohabiting 9.5% and single 7.5%.

Divorced people have the highest recent (last year) and current (last month) usage rates, at 15% and 9% respectively.

In relation to anti-depressants, separated people have the highest lifetime use (20%), compared with about 18% for widowed and divorced.

Some 6% of divorced and separated report current use, compared with 4% of widowed. The figure for married and single people is 3% and cohabiting 1%.

NACD chairman Dr Corrigan said the survey confirmed research showing a higher level of use among females (13% lifetime) compared with men (8%).

Overall, 10% of people aged 15 to 64 have used sedatives and tranquillisers and 9% anti-depressants. This is more than 300,000 people and almost 270,000 respectively.

Drugs Strategy Minister John Curran said that these levels were "quite significant" and recommended that the Irish Medicines Board and the Irish Pharmaceutical Union examine the issue.

He expressed concern at the number (11%) who were getting these drugs without a prescription.

Source: Cormac O'Keefe, The Irish Examiner, 27/03/2009