Teenage Drug Addiction Cases Surge by 40%: "Abuse of Sleeping Pills and Antipyretics"

Total Number of Patients Decreased by 1.5%
From 16,000 in 2020 to 16,000 in 2024

It has been found that the number of teenage patients treated for drug addiction involving sleeping pills, antipyretics, and diet pills has surged by 40% over the past five years.

According to the 'Status of Medical Treatment for Drug Addiction' submitted by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to Assemblywoman Nam Insoon of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee on October 21, the number of patients addicted to pharmaceuticals decreased by 1.46% from 16,256 in 2020 to 16,018 in 2024. However, during the same period, the number of teenage patients increased sharply by 39.5%, from 1,375 to 1,918.

Drug addiction often occurs when commonly used medications such as sleeping pills, antipyretics, and appetite suppressants are taken excessively or abused over an extended period. Over the past five years, the number of patients addicted to pharmaceuticals has decreased in most age groups, but the number of patients increased only among teenagers and those in their 60s (up by 7.5%).

In total, 80,268 patients received treatment for drug addiction over the past five years. By age group, those in their 20s accounted for the largest share at 14,949 (18.6%), followed by those in their 40s with 11,473 (14.3%), those in their 50s with 10,623 (13.2%), and teenagers with 8,964 (11.17%).

Assemblywoman Nam Insoon stated, "Although the total number of patients is declining, the sharp increase in teenage drug addiction cases is a serious warning sign," stressing, "The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety must strengthen its oversight and management to prevent teenagers from easily misusing or abusing pharmaceuticals in their daily lives."