Over 20 Million Koreans Prescribed Medical Narcotics in 2024, Raising Concerns Over Usage Surge | Be Korea-savvy

Over 20 Million Koreans Prescribed Medical Narcotics in 2024, Raising Concerns Over Usage Surge


Propofol. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

Propofol. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 25 (Korea Bizwire) More than 20 million people in South Korea received prescriptions for medical narcotics last year, reflecting a steady rise in usage across the population, according to a new government report released Tuesday.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management published the 2024 Medical Narcotics Usage Statistics, based on data from the country’s Integrated Narcotics Management System. The findings reveal that approximately 40 percent of the population received at least one prescription for a medical narcotic in 2024.

In total, 1.93 billion doses were prescribed—an average of 96 doses per person. Among those, 56.6% received propofol, a commonly used anesthetic, and 38.2% were prescribed midazolam, a sedative often administered during sleep endoscopy procedures.

The highest prescription rates were observed among individuals in their 50s (20.8%), followed by those in their 60s (19.7%) and 40s (19.1%), reflecting higher disease incidence with age. Adults aged 40–60 accounted for nearly 60% of all medical narcotics recipients.

Notably, while the number of patients under 10 receiving prescriptions did not significantly increase, the volume of prescriptions in that age group rose 1.9 times over the past five years. Authorities attribute this trend to the sharp rise in ADHD diagnoses, with prescriptions for ADHD medications increasing by more than 20% annually during the same period.

Anxiety medications accounted for the largest share of prescriptions by drug category at 47.8%, followed by sedatives (16.2%), antiepileptics (12.8%), and appetite suppressants (11.4%). Use of appetite suppressants and fentanyl showed a declining trend over the past five years.

The number of licensed narcotics handlers reached 48,417 last year—continuing an upward trajectory since 2020. The number of physicians, dentists, and veterinarians prescribing narcotics also grew by 95 from the previous year to 114,108.

In 2024, South Korea produced 1.66 billion units of medical narcotics, imported 290.75 million, and exported 14.26 million. Compared to 2023, production and imports decreased, while exports rose slightly.

The ministry said it would continue to monitor potential misuse and take active measures to strengthen oversight. “We are committed to managing medical narcotics responsibly and responding swiftly to suspected cases of abuse,” the agency stated.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com) 

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