Abstract
Background: Currently in Nigeria, prescription only medicines are supposed to be dispensed only with a prescription. The study aimed to reveal the prevalence of prescription only medicine without a prescription and the perception of community pharmacist in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria towards the phenomenon.
 Method: The study was carried out between February–April 2019 using simulated patient approach and administration of questionnaire on the pharmacists.
 Result: Forty pharmacies were surveyed and 100% (29) of the respondents were willing to dispense prescription only medicines without a prescription. Among the respondents, 93% (27) said they do see up to an estimated 30% of POMs without a prescription daily. While 19.2% (5) of the pharmacists do dispense POM without a prescription, 42.3% (11) said they do so depend on the level of education or prior exposure of the client to the medication. Only 38.5% (10) said they will not dispense a POM without a prescription. Most of the pharmacists, 93% (27) agreed that dispensing POM without with a prescription holds potentials for drug abuse, drug misuse, drug dependence with attendant economic consequences.
 Conclusion: A vast majority of practicing community pharmacists in Nigeria are willing and do dispense prescription-only medications without a valid prescription; for a variety of reasons. This is against existing Nigerian pharmacy laws and the national drug policy.
Highlights
Drug misuse and abuse play a significant impact on human lives and human productivity
A vast majority of practicing community pharmacists in Nigeria are willing and do dispense prescription-only medications without a valid prescription; for a variety of reasons. This is against existing Nigerian pharmacy laws and the national drug policy
There is a plethora of drug-regulating agencies in Nigeria which include National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN)
Summary
Drug misuse and abuse play a significant impact on human lives and human productivity. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug-related mortality in 2012 for population aged 15-64 alone was estimated to be 40 deaths in a million (UNODC, 2014). Some of these drug-related deaths could be traced to misuse of medicines which are purchased without a valid prescription. There is a plethora of drug-regulating agencies in Nigeria which include National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) These agencies work synergistically to ensure that best practices are observed in the handling of drugs in Nigeria and, ensure or enforce rational drug prescription and dispensing. Only the right drug, in right dosage form in the right dose is supposed to be prescribed and dispensed to the right patient for the right duration [6], [7]
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