Sales of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs grew by 6.7% in the year ending in February 2015, according to trade figures. Pain killer (analgesics) sales comprise the largest sector accounting for 21.5% of the total, followed by skincare treatment products (19.4%), cough, cold and sore-throat remedies (17.8%) and gastro-intestinal remedies (9.6%). Sales of adult oral analgesics accounts for the highest sales, at 61.9% of the total in 2014/2015. 
Reaching New Highs
From these figures the trade report estimates that two-thirds of the adult population in the UK purchase pain killers every year.
The report for pharma mentions factors such as increases in prescription charges in England and the switching of some prescription medicines to over-the-counter (OTC) products and this may have led to the massive increase in demand for OTC pharmaceuticals.
Interestingly the trade report does not seem to mention the alarming increase in the rates of addiction and dependence to pain killers, which most doctors and healthcare professionals specialising in addiction might consider to be the single largest factor.
In his article on Addcition to Painkillers, UK addictions expert Prof Oscar D'Agnone says, "From my personal experience of working in this area, we know the the scale of addiction to prescription drugs is huge. However, measuring the exact extent of addiction to over the counter (OTC) and prescription only (POM) medicines is difficult as the information available varies and we (in practice) only see the tip of the iceberg."
