Self-prescription of opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and other psychotropic medications among physicians in South Korea.

This article examines the self-prescription of opioids, sedative-hypnotics, and other potentially habit-forming psychotropic medications among practicing physicians in South Korea from 2020 to 2023, using nationwide data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Approximately seven percent of physicians self-prescribed these controlled substances, a rate significantly lower than the 39.3% prescription rate in the general population; however, physicians who self-prescribed obtained a higher average number of pills than individuals in the general population. Zolpidem was the most commonly self-prescribed medication, with sedatives, anxiolytics, and appetite suppressants also frequently used. The study highlights variations in self-prescription rates by physician specialty and sex, and suggests that while overall prevalence is low, the higher pill quantities and presence of outliers indicate potential risks of overuse, underscoring the need for careful monitoring and regulation of physician self-prescribing practices in South Korea.