Lifestyle drugs gain greater acceptance

People are more willing to use medicines for self-enhancement, for example, to increase their mental capacity. Conditions resulting from personal actions or behaviour are readily treated with medication accessed on the high street, and the market for lifestyle drugs grows, further facilitated by e-dispensing services.

Proposed workforce impact

• Pharmacists need to ensure that patients are well informed of the risks of lifestyle drugs.
• Education and training need to encompass this new category of drugs.

Sources or references

• http://pharma.about.com/od/Sales_and_Marketing/a/The-Rise-Of-Lifestyle-Drugs.htm
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2624547.stm

Additional research questions

• What medications are currently being used for self-enhancement? How have these affected demand for pharmacists?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.