Over-the-counter codeine use in Iceland: the impact of increased access.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to test the assumption that liberalizing community pharmacy ownership in Iceland would lead to increased irrational use of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine.


METHODS
Based on this assumption we built and tested a model using an interrupted time series design that contrasts the monthly sales data for over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine before and after the legislation took effect.


RESULTS
The total use of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine as well as those containing paracetamol and codeine has risen steadily throughout the period under study. The interrupted time series did not show a substantial effect from the legislative change on the use of all over-the-counter codeine pain relievers, paracetemol with codeine, and aspirin with codeine combinations.


CONCLUSIONS
The assumption that increased access leads to irrational use of over-the-counter medicines is not substantiated in the case of over-the-counter pain relievers containing codeine.
Department of Social Pharmacy, The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen. annab@decode.is
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Almarsdóttir
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A
Grimsson
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003061:Codeine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland; D015233:Models, Statistical; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010067:Ownership / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012651:Self Medication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013995:Time
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D003061:Codeine