Promoting Safe Medication Practices in the Classroom

Self-medication has traditionally been defined as the consumption of medicines, herbs, and home remedies on one's own initiative or on the advice of another person, without consulting a doctor. In Spain, the consumption of non-prescription drugs is quite widespread among young people, since more than half of them have used medications without a medical prescription in the last year. This high prevalence of self-medication among Spanish youth seems to be driven by various factors that encourage this practice. These include the increase in over-the-counter medications, delays in obtaining appointments at health centers, the influence of common family self-care practices, and the population's greater knowledge of and interest in health-related issues. Inappropriate use of medications constitutes a public health problem and can cause significant risks to users' health, such as adverse reac