Society summary

Young adults “fail to take their medicines seriously”

Young adults may be putting their health at risk and suffering unnecessary symptoms by failing to take medicines properly, a new survey, commissioned by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, revealed on 7 September. The survey highlights a general complacency in the way those aged from 18 to 39 years manage their medicines. It found that a high proportion do not follow directions on how, how often or for how long to take medicines.

Just over 52 per cent of the young adults surveyed admitted to having stopped taking prescribed medicines before the end of the course. In two out of three of these cases, they failed to tell their GP or pharmacist that they had done this.

Young adults were more likely than any other group to start taking medicines without asking for advice, even if confused about directions. Young men were the group least likely to follow directions given with prescribed medicines and were most reluctant to talk to their pharmacist about other medication they were taking. Almost one third of the young adults surveyed had at some point ignored directions not to mix alcohol and medication.

In contrast, older people were shown to be far more aware of the need for good practice. They are more likely to seek advice from their pharmacist when concerned about their medication and are least likely to mix their medication with alcohol.

The Society’s Vice-President, Dr Gillian Hawksworth, said: “It is extremely important that we get the message through to young adults that taking medicines properly really does matter. Modern medicines are highly refined, scientifically engineered products. But they need to be used in the right way to be effective. “If medicines are not taken properly or a course is not completed, the symptoms of the illness may return and, in the case of infections, may be even more severe. All medicines have the potential to cause unwanted effects and this can be a problem if the medicine isn’t taken as intended.”

Dr Hawksworth added: “The situation among 18- to 39-year-olds is a cause for concern. Many people in this age group will be leading busy lifestyles but should still be making time to talk about the medicines they are taking with their pharmacist or GP.

“Today, patients have more information to hand and are able to make informed choices about their health, which is a welcome development. But people should always be prepared to play their part by taking medicines in the right way and asking for advice when unsure.”

The research was undertaken for the Society by Business Diagnostics. Full survey results can be found on the Society’s website (www.rpsgb.org.uk).

Back to Top