Related Experiment Videos
Physicians' prescriptions of tranquilizers and tranquilizer abuse
The International Journal of the Addictions
|April 1, 1986
Summary
Physician prescribing practices correlate with tranquilizer abuse. This study statistically links tranquilizer prescriptions to increased emergency room visits for abuse, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Tranquilizer abuse is a significant public health issue.
- Qualitative studies suggest physician prescribing practices contribute to tranquilizer abuse.
- A statistical link between prescription patterns and abuse requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To statistically examine the relationship between physician tranquilizer prescriptions and tranquilizer abuse over time.
- To quantify the strength of the association between prescribing habits and abuse incidents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized National Disease and Therapeutic Index (NDTI) data for physician prescription trends.
- Employed Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) data on emergency room episodes for abuse indicators.
- Conducted a correlational analysis, controlling for serial correlations.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant positive correlation (r = .46, p < .05) was found between tranquilizer prescriptions and tranquilizer abuse.
- The findings support a quantifiable link between prescribing practices and abuse rates.
Conclusions:
- Physician prescribing practices are statistically associated with tranquilizer abuse.
- The study provides empirical evidence supporting the role of prescription patterns in the tranquilizer abuse epidemic.
- Interventions targeting prescribing practices may help mitigate tranquilizer abuse.