Depression drug use soars in Canada
Canadian Press,


Thursday, October 17, 2002


TORONTO (CP) -- Over the past two decades, taking drugs to treat depression has become a national pastime in Canada, and the trend is likely to continue, a new study suggests.

During the period from 1981 to 2000, the total number of prescriptions for antidepressants jumped to 14.5 million a year from 3.2 million, according to the study, conducted by three University of Toronto researchers who analysed prescription habits in Canada.

This 353-per-cent increase occurred while the size of Canada's population increased only one per cent annually.