[Epidemiology of drug use in Switzerland]

A description of the consumption patterns of medicaments is given on the base of a survey taken of 1081 randomly selected persons between the ages of 15 and 74, originating from all three parts of Switzerland. On the whole, the data show a high inclination among the population to manipulate one's own condition by the intake of medicaments. Particularly among the younger age groups, the inclination to self-medication is high.