Less drug use in N.Z.—poll

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 7

Less drug use in N.Z.—poll

p.A Wellington New Zealanders are less likely to “dose themselves up” than their British or American counterparts, according to a survey of 500 Wellington households. The survey, the first in New Zealand on self medication was backed by the Chemists’ Guild, the Pharmaceutical Society, and the Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation. Of all the women surveyed, 12 per cent said that they telephoned their chemist for advice and 16 per cent said that they relieved unsolicited advice, mainly on the type of medicine needed or a warning on dosage and use of remedies. Nearly all considered the advice worth taking and a quarter said that their pharmacists advised them to see a doctor in

cases needing medical treatment.

Many wanted more information on medicinebottle labels — such as the ingredients. Covering 1506 persons, the survey showed that New Zealanders were greater users of prescribed medicines than Americans or the British but were less inclined to self medication. This was partly due to the different health systems. According to the survey the average urban family keeps 3.4 prescription remedies and 3.6 nonprescribed drugs in the medicine cupboard, gained three-quarters of them during the last year, and usually shares nonprescription drugs. The survey showed that in the average family the mother used twice as many prescription medicines as the father and ihree times as many as each child.