A campaign is launched this Wednesday by the ANSM to raise awareness of the proper use of drugs. “Misuse of drugs can have serious consequences by causing more adverse effects,” explains the National Medicines Safety Agency.
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The ANSM (the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products) is launching a campaign on Wednesday June 7 on the proper use of medicines entitled: “Medicines are not ordinary products, do not take them lightly”.
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This campaign aims to inform and raise awareness among the French. A recent study carried out for the ANSM with a panel of French people – to which France Inter and franceinfo had access – shows that: three out of ten French people adapt, by themselves, the dose or the duration of the drugs given to them been prescribed. One in five French people take higher doses or take several drugs at the same time to relieve symptoms more quickly. Nearly one in two French people give medicine to a loved one because they have the same symptoms, and it is even one in ten who do it systematically or often. Finally, 34% consider as “rather not risky” Or “not at all risky“to take expired medicine.
A few simple tips
It is therefore to combat this situation that the ANSM is launching its campaign through posters, a video spot, several audio spots, a leaflet for the general public and a mailing for health professionals. Tools intended for the general public but also for health professionals, as explained by doctor Christelle Ratignier-Carbonneil, director general of the ANSM: “The proper use of medicines is a major public health issue that concerns us all, from healthcare professionals to patients”.
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The National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products recalls that a “Misuse of drugs can have serious consequences by leading to more adverse effects, ineffective treatment, or even worsening of the disease”. She therefore advises “respect the prescription of the health professional (dose, frequency, duration…)”of “pay attention to the shelf life of medicines”or even “do not take several medications at the same time without the advice of a professional”.