Which prescription and OTC medicines are commonly misused?

From this pharmacy CPD module, you will learn about:

• How medicines misuse is defined and the extent of the problem
• Which medicines are dependence-forming and other drugs that may be misused
• The difference between drug class and schedules
• What is being done to tackle the problem in the NHS, and what pharmacists and their staff can do

Download a printable PDF of this module – including the five-minute test – here.

The term ‘substance misuse’ may conjure up images of people using illegal drugs – ecstasy, cocaine, or cannabis, for example. But all too often, the substances are those found on the shelves of the pharmacy.

What is misuse?

Medicines misuse, abuse, dependency or addiction – the terms used may differ, but there is little doubt that drugs are sometimes