Survey: 37% of Latvians Have Taken Prescription Drugs Meant for Someone Else
A survey commissioned by pharmacy chain EUROAPTIEKA found that 37% of Latvian residents have used prescription medicines issued to another person, while 22% have given their own prescription drugs to others. Many also admit to other risky habits in using medicines and supplements.
More than a third of Latvian residents, or 37%, have taken prescription medicines issued to a family member or friend, and 22% have given their own prescription drugs to someone else. This is shown by an opinion poll commissioned by the pharmacy chain EUROAPTIEKA, which examined how people in Latvia use medicines and dietary supplements and pointed to several health risks.
About the survey
The poll was carried out in October 2026 by the research company Norstat. It involved 1,002 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74 from all statistical regions. The sample was 53% women and 47% men.
Medicines meant for others
People aged 40 to 59 were the most likely to have taken prescription drugs issued to someone else, with almost one in two in this group doing so. Among seniors aged 60 to 74, almost one in three has given their own prescription medicines to another person who, in their view, had similar symptoms.
Expiry dates, compatibility and self-diagnosis
Some 42% of respondents have at least once used medicines or supplements after their expiry date. Only 33% always or often consult a doctor or pharmacist about whether several medicines and supplements are compatible with each other.
When questions arise, 37% turn to a pharmacist, 35% search online, and 15% use artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT. After self-diagnosing with Google or ChatGPT, 20% have bought medicines or supplements without consulting a doctor or pharmacist; among those under 39, it is one in four. A total of 23% have bought supplements after an influencer's advertisement, while 34% have taken supplements at their own discretion without first checking the instructions or compatibility with other medicines. In addition, 31% sometimes wash down medicines or supplements with coffee, an energy drink or juice.
Comment from the pharmacy chain
Nataļja Zaharova, chair of the management board of EUROAPTIEKA and head of the company in Latvia, said that proper medicine use is a public health issue and that pharmacies have a responsibility to help people use medicines safely. She urged people to ask a pharmacist when in doubt, noting that the internet and AI tools cannot replace an individual professional assessment.
The company is running the campaign "Build the right relationship with medicines!", which aims to educate the public about safe medicine use, interaction risks, storing medicines out of children's reach and returning unusable medicines to pharmacies.
