OTC drugs not subject to sales restrictions likely to be commonly abused
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Over-the-counter drugs commonly abused by Japanese youth likely include pain relievers and allergy treatments not subject to sales re
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications commonly abused by Japanese youth may not be subject to sales restrictions aimed at preventing overdoses, according to a survey and data from pharmaceutical firms. These drugs are among 20 accessible without a prescription and often mentioned on social media by users seeking psychotropic effects, as shown by a 2025 survey conducted by the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP).
The NCNP survey, which analyzed 321 social media posts suspected to be about drug abuse, found that 173 of them included names of OTC drugs, with some 20 OTC drugs commonly abused. Five of these products are not subject to the government's sales regulations, primarily cough medications containing ingredients deemed potentially toxic when taken in excessive amounts.
Clinical psychologist Maki Kitamura, who led the survey, emphasized that the government's regulations only address part of the overdose problem and called for understanding the underlying anxieties of abusers to help them avoid heavy drug use. A separate 2024 NCNP survey revealed that over 70 percent of teenagers receiving psychiatric therapy were treated for OTC drug abuse.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
