closer to the 8.7 percent reported by Hispanics, as well.
The use of psychiatric drugs also increased by age, the report stated. Older adults — those aged 60 to 85 — comprised 25 percent of users, compared to 9 percent of respondents aged 18 to 39. Results also showed that there were more women who took psychiatric drugs than men.
Researchers stated that their results may have been underestimated because their data relied on self-reporting, and their estimates of long-term use were limited to a single year.
Their recommendations for safer use of psychiatric drugs include an emphasis of prescribing the lowest possible doses and consistently reevaluating the need for extended use. The recommendations were very similar to new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding opioid prescriptions earlier this year, which stated physicians should “prescribe the lowest possible effective dosage,” and “regularly monitor patients.”
Author: Cesar Gamboa
Cesar Gamboa is a staff reporter and editor for Addiction Now covering topics ranging from legislation to scientific studies. He was previously a general assignment reporter for the Orange County Register. SoCal raised, lover of books, and avid mountain biker (when he wants to be). He can be reached at cesarg@addictionnow.com.
