The epidemiology of psychotropic drug use in Canada.

The problems and limitations of the two primary methods of assessing prescription drug consumption are discussed. The latest available consumption data on tranquillizers and/or psychotropics from Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan are presented. Total per capita consumption of all drugs has risen steadily while the proportion of all prescriptions accounted for by psychotropic drugs has remained quite consistent. Studies concerned with the patterns of psychotropic drug use are discussed. These identify the high-risk populations as the chronically ill, the elderly, women and the institutionalized.