Over-reliance on prescription drugs ‘unhealthy’

DOCTORS and patients are excessively reliant on prescription drugs partly because of the “unhealthy” influence of the pharmaceutical industry, an Oireachtas committee has found.

The over-reliance is contributing to high rates of adverse reactions to medications, the cross-party committee said.

In a report published yesterday, the Sub-Committee on the Adverse Side Effects of Pharmaceuticals warned that the influence of the industry would have to be curbed if this problem were to be addressed.