Psychotropic drugs: long-term use, dependency and the gender factor.
The study examines the factors contributing to the initiation, continuation and termination of use among female and male long-term users of minor and major tranquilizers. The findings show the importance of the lay-referral system as a channel of introduction to psychotropic drug use, especially for men. The issue of dependency is explored both in terms of the users' own interpretation of its nature and their reports on the professional responses to their long-term use. The findings indicate that gender and drug use are intricately linked in both the non-professional and professional treatment of anxiety and insomnia.
Department of Sociology, Abo Akademi University, Finland.
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D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents