Nonmedical use of sedatives in urban Bengaluru

BACKGROUND: Nonmedical sedative use is emerging as a serious problem in India. However, there is paucity of literature on the patterns of use in the population. AIM: The aim of the present analysis was to explore sedative use patterns in an urban metropolis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for the present analysis come from the parent study on nonmedical prescription drug use in Bengaluru, India. Participants (n = 717) were recruited using a mall-intercept approach, wherein they were intercepted in five randomly selected shopping malls, and administered an interview on their use of prescription drugs. RESULTS: Past 12-month nonmedical sedative use was reported by 12%, benzodiazepines being the commonest. Reasons cited for nonmedical use included “sleeplessness, pain relief, stress.” A majority (73%) reported sedative use “in ways other than as prescribed,” compared to “use without prescription” (27%). All prescriptions were issued by general physicians in private hospitals. About 11% among those who used “in ways other than as prescribed,” and 100% of nonprescribed users, reported irregular use (skipping doses/stopping/restarting). Among those who used “in ways other than prescribed,” pharmacy stores were the source of obtaining the sedatives. Among “nonprescribed users,” family/friends were the main source. Three-percent reported using sedatives and alcohol together in the same use episode. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, nonmedical sedative use was significantly associated with graduation-level education or above (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.91), and married status (aOR: 2.32, 95% CI: 1.04-5.18). CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the need for considering various contextual factors in tailoring preventive interventions for reducing nonmedical sedative use.