A study on the awareness of the use of medicines among high school students aged 14–16 years in a co-educational school in North India

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Oommen, Tom^;

Affiliations: Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India

Note: [] Correspondence to: Tom Oommen BSc MD., Department of Pharmacology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana 141 008, India.

Abstract: In India there are over 65000 pharmaceutical formulations on the market. Many of them are available without prescription over the counter. There are no legal restrictions enforced to restrain school children from purchasing or procuring drugs for their personal use. The present study shows that with an increase in the flow of medical information available to school children through various media, these children will gain some knowledge as to the use of drugs, though remaining unaware of the risks which they involve or the limits to their safety. This constitutes a danger to parents, physicians and society at large.

Keywords: Medicines, Awareness, Adolescents, Responsibility

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1993-4203

Journal: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 127-132, 1993