2. Drug Issues in Japangaining attention as a social problem. Recent surveys show that emergency hospitalizations due to intentional overdoses of OTC drugs among teenagers are rising, with many cases involving multiple drugs taken at once, sometimes based on information found on social media. Since these medicines are easy to purchase at pharmacies, young people tend to perceive them as familiar and safe, and this misconception has been identified as one of the factors behind the increase in misuse. Underlying these behaviors are social and psychological issues. Stress from human relationships, academic competition, and comparisons on social media are major contributing factors, and adolescents in particular often feel isolated and unable to seek support from others. Restrictions on going out and the shift to online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic further reinforced this sense of isolation and are said to have pushed more young people toward drug use. In response, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has asked pharmacists and registered sellers to take on the role of gatekeepers in preventing misuse. The government has also expanded consultation services and support systems to address mental stress and feelings of isolation. However, these measures have not yet been sufficient to resolve the problem.Table 1: Lifetime Prevalence of Drug Use in Major Countries (Author’s translation) As shown in Table 1, Japan’s drug use rate is extremely low compared to other countries. For example, the lifetime prevalence of cannabis use is only 1.4%, which is overwhelmingly lower than in France (40.9%) or the United States (44.2%). Japan’s strict approach to illegal drugs has kept the use of cannabis and stimulants at a globally low level. Behind this are tough drug-related laws such as the Stimulants Control Act and the Cannabis Control Act, both enacted in 1951, along with reinforced border control measures carried out by the police and immigration authorities. In addition, Japan actively promotes anti-drug awareness campaigns, most notably the well-known slogan “No! Absolutely No!”. These efforts are believed to have created a strong social stigma toward drug use, which functions as a deterrent. On the surface, Japan appears to be successful in controlling drug use. However, drug problems are not limited to illegal substances. Because enforcement is so strict, a mistaken perception has spread among young people that drugs not explicitly prohibited are safe. As a result, problems linked to the inappropriate use of legal substances have become a significant issue. As mentioned earlier, overdoses of common medicines such as cold remedies and painkillers have been increasing, particularly among middle and high school students, and this has been 6
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