The use of antidepressant medication among young people has increased sharply, with prescriptions of SSRI antidepressants rising by almost 290 percent over the last 20 years, according to National Board of Health and Welfare statistics. Among children up to nine years old, prescriptions have increased by over 600 percent in ten years. Sweden stands out compared to its Nordic neighbors, with prescriptions five times higher for young people aged 10 to 19.
The threshold for prescribing medication to children has been lowered, according to reports. Nearly one in six Swedes (16 percent) has at some point taken prescription medication prescribed to someone else, such as a partner, family member, close acquaintance, or colleague, based on an Apotek Hjärtat survey. This behavior is most common among younger people, with 23 percent in the 18-29 age group reporting they have used others' prescription medication.
Commonly shared medications include narcotic sleep aids like Imovane, pain relievers like Citodon, antibiotics, melatonin, blood pressure medication, and weight control drugs. People self-medicate instead of seeking care for their ailments, which has become increasingly common, surveys indicate. Incorrect use of medication, such as overdosing, can lead to damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain, health experts warn.
SSRI medication should never be given as sole treatment but always together with psychosocial treatment, such as therapy or family treatment, according to medical guidelines. It remains unclear what specific measures Swedish health authorities are taking to address the high prescription rates of antidepressants among children and young people, and how many cases of severe harm or death are directly linked to the misuse of shared prescription medication. Additionally, whether the increase in antidepressant prescriptions is primarily driven by a rise in mental health issues among youth or by changes in medical practices and resource constraints is not confirmed.