The Misuse of Prescription Drugs after the 2023 Earthquake in Türkiye: Insights from Pharmacy Workers

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Yasuntımur A., Ersoy E., Bayhan V., Cumurcu H. B., Stojkow M., Çetintaş A., ...More

POLISH SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW, vol.232, no.4, pp.423-444, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 232 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.26412/psr232.05
  • Journal Name: POLISH SOCIOLOGICAL REVIEW
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), IBZ Online, Central & Eastern European Academic Source (CEEAS), Political Science Complete, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.423-444
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Inonu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The misuse of prescription drugs among individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) is a growing

public health concern, particularly after disasters. However, there is limited research on the experiences of

pharmacy workers in such contexts. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the post-earthquake

experiences of 30 pharmacy workers (19 male, 11 female) regarding prescription drug misuse by individuals

with SUD. Data was collected via semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically. Six themes emerged: the

impact of the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye; misused medications and user characteristics; methods of identifying

individuals with SUD; strategies to combat misuse; violence and security concerns; and Ministry of Health

regulations. Pharmacy workers pointed to an increased misuse of prescription drugs after the earthquake, with

young adults (18–30) being a key risk group. It is recommended that such medications be dispensed only through

hospital pharmacies, under strict control, to reduce misuse and enhance staff safety.