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World Health Organization-
Self-medication, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), involves individuals selecting and using medicines to treat conditions or symptoms that they have self-diagnosed or referral communication of Families /Friends and with Local Pharmacist or Chemist shops. This includes acquiring medications without prescriptions, including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescription-only medications, and consuming leftover medications opposite to recommended guidelines. The rising trend of self-medication poses a considerable global public health challenge, observed across both developed and developing nations.
Reasons & Loop holes for Self Medication :-
In India especially Jammu & Kashmir, inadequate healthcare services and easy access to a wide range of medications have significantly increased self-medication rates. Factors such as financial constraints, limited access to healthcare facilities, busy lifestyles, and a preference for convenience make individuals more inclined towards self-medication practices.Self-medication is a widespread and escalating public health issue in Jammu & Kashmir. Driven by over-the-counter availability of drugs, the high cost of healthcare, and prior medical experience, the trend has quietly become a daily practice for managing minor ailments, chronic conditions, and psychological distress.
The Trend in Jammu & Kashmir Alarming Prevalence:
Community-based research in the valley shows self-medication prevalence rates soaring as high as 89.58%. It is highly prevalent across all demographics, including illiterate households, the general public, and even among medical and nursing students.
Commonly Used Drugs:
The most frequently self-prescribed medications include analgesics (painkillers), antipyretic (fever reducers), cough/cold preparations, and antibiotics
.As per Index Data most common conditions/symptoms for self-medication were fever (89%), cough and cold (75%), headache (67%), diarrhea(33%), any type of pain(53%), followed by minor cut, vomiting. Antipyretics (82%) cough and cold preparation (51%) and pain killers (49%) .
Self care becomes self medication:-
Health care experts draws an important distinction between responsible self care and unsafe self medication.
Sourcing: -Almost every pharmacy in the valley routinely dispenses drugs directly to customers without requiring a formal prescription.
The Digital Shift: -The practice has been further complicated by the rise of the internet and Artificial Intelligence. People frequently rely on AI-based health apps, online symptom checkers, and web searches to self-diagnose and determine what medications to purchase.
Psychological Distress:- Given the region’s historical and ongoing conflict, there is a severe mental health crisis. Many individuals—particularly young people—self-medicate to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety due to the overburdened or inaccessible psychiatric healthcare system.
The Consequences:-
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): The irrational and widespread use of antibiotics has resulted in a concerning rise in multi-drug resistant pathogens. This makes common bacterial infections much harder to treat.
Organ Damage & Failure:- Frequent, unsupervised use of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) is a leading cause of peptic ulcers and has been documented as a major factor contributing to chronic kidney damage and kidney failure in the region.
Delayed Diagnosis:- Self-medication often masks the symptoms of serious underlying conditions. When patients finally see a doctor, their illnesses are often at advanced, harder-to-treat stages.
Adverse Reactions & Drug Interactions:-Taking Multiple medications without professional guidance lead to dangerous complications and severe allergic reactions and multi factorial health problems.
A Habit that cuts across age and Income:-
Self medication is neither a rural nor an urban phenomenon.This isn’t just a personal health issues.it’s a national public health crisis Every Pill taken without guidance contributes to a ticking time bomb that could affect you,your family and millions more.Your Health is not a convenience ,The medicine that should save lives cannot fail us,not because its weak,but because we misused it.
What needs to change?
Breaking indias habit of unsafe self medication will require more than stricter policing of pharmacies.
Improving primary health care access.
Strict Regulations on Over Counter sales.
Enforcement of prescription Laws & Public Awareness that medicine is not a DIY tool for every Local Chemist.
The cause is not far away,its in our homes,our habits ,our convenience .
Assessment of self Medication practices and knowledge of over counter drugs from Pharmacy and Chemist Shops.
Remember always Medicine is Learnt at Medical Colleges over a period of 10 years and not at Google over 10 minutes -Say No to Self Medication & Unregistered chemist Dawai shops.
Research Scholar & Scientific Officer
Miriqbal89@gmail.com
