One in four Lanzarote islanders has taken drugs to manage their mental health, a survey has revealed.
The Canarian Social Barometer found that, of a sample of 400 correspondents, 25.6% were taking drugs for mental problems, compared to a figure of 17% before the pandemic.
Tranquiliser use has shot up, as has consumption of painkillers, antipsychotics and anti-depressives, and Lanzarote is now the island that most uses these type of drugs.
Nevertheless, use of sleeping pills and analgesics has decreased.
40% of islanders claimed that they had felt anxiety or fear during the last two years of the pandemic; 26% claimed that they had suffered relationship or family problems, and 12% has suffered from obsessive behaviour.
In addition, over 4% said they has experienced domestic violence and over 2% had had suicidal thoughts.
Just over 20% of those affected said they had sought professional help for their mental problems.
For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote”.
