Data presented at the annual meeting of the Israeli Society for Quality in Medicine in Tel Aviv showed a 50% rise in the purchase of anti-anxiety medications and a threefold increase in the acquisition of narcotic pain relievers, Israel national news reports.
Dr. Tzipi Hornik-Lurie, head of the Data Research Department at Meir Medical Center, noted that following the events of October 7th, healthcare professionals observed an uptick in the use of antidepressants, anxiety medications, narcotic pain relievers, and sleeping pills among adults in Israel, surpassing the usual trends seen in previous years. The situation was even more severe for residents of the Gaza Envelope communities, where there was a 200% increase in anti-anxiety drug purchases and a 250% rise in narcotic pain relievers. Additionally, there was a 33% increase in antidepressant prescriptions and a 25% increase in sleeping pills in this region.
The study, which analyzed data from approximately 2.9 million insured individuals over the age of 18, identified several risk factors linked to increased drug consumption.
Dr. Hornik-Lurie explained that the risk factors for using these medications after October 7th included being over 65, residing in the Gaza Envelope at that time, living in a peripheral area, and being female.
Summarizing the findings, Dr. Hornik-Lurie expressed concern over the significant rise in anti-anxiety drug usage and the spike in narcotic pain reliever consumption following the war. She emphasized the need for further studies to explore the long-term impacts of the conflict on the broader population, particularly those in surrounding areas. She urged decision-makers and health policy officials to take immediate action to assess and mitigate the consumption of narcotic medications to prevent potential addiction.