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More than one in ten 13-year-olds have bought over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for themselves, a study has found.
The survey, results of which were published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology on 13 February 2026, used data from 3,164 pupils aged 13-18 years from 18 schools and colleges in the north-west of England during the 2023/2024 school academic year.
The results showed that 13% of 13-year-olds (n=43) had purchased OTC medicine independently; however, the survey did not report whether these were purchased from a pharmacy or another retailer.
Of the 18-year-olds surveyed, 43% (n=83) had independently purchased OTCs.
Overall, 1,660 (53%) of survey respondents had used OTC medicines in a six-month period.
Across all the age groups, the most common OTC medicines purchased were paracetamol, ibuprofen and antihistamines.
The authors noted that OTC medicines can be purchased outside of pharmacies, which “limits interaction between adolescents and pharmacy employees who may discuss benefits and risks of specific medications”.
“Despite limitations retailers have around age-restrictions for medications, these were not effective in preventing OTC purchasing in adolescents, as shown in 164 adolescents who first obtained OTC medications under 13 years of age,” they added.
The survey also found that 6% of respondents aged 13 years (n=19) said that they had ordered a prescription medicine online.
It also revealed that 4% (n=14) of 13-year-olds had taken a prescription medicine without their parent’s knowledge.
While the majority of respondents said that they never taken prescribed medication without parental knowledge (98%; n=3095), the survey found that across all ages, female respondents across all ages were more likely to have taken medicines without their parent’s knowledge than males (p < 0.001).
On average across all ages, 24% of respondents (n=748) had collected a prescription for another family member.
According to the study authors, this is the largest UK dataset on adolescent medication behaviour with regard to independent taking of OTC and prescription medication.
“Adolescents take responsibility for taking medications independently at younger ages than previously considered,” they added.
They added that the fact that OTCs are commonly obtained by adolescents under the age of 16 years highlights considerations for more stringent regulation in the UK.
Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, commented: “It is vital that young people understand what a medicine is for, how to take it safely and when to seek advice.
“Pharmacists provide confidential guidance on both prescription and over-the-counter medicines and support families in helping young people use medicines safely.
“While access to medicines is important, this should be accompanied by medicines education and open family conversations so young people know when and how to seek professional advice.”
