Survey: One in Four Americans Admits Faking Symptoms to Get Antibiotics
Written by AI from livescience.com's report. Not checked by a person.
A U.S. study published in JAMA Network Open found that about 28 per cent of American adults have exaggerated or fabricated symptoms to obtain antibiotics, raising urgent concerns about antimicrobial resistance.
A survey-based study published in JAMA Network Open in late October 2026 found that roughly 28 per cent of American adults — nearly one in four — have at some point misrepresented their symptoms to a healthcare provider in order to obtain antibiotics. The survey, conducted in January and February 2026, asked respondents whether they had ever told a doctor their symptoms were worse or longer-lasting than they were, or had outright invented symptoms to secure a prescription. Among those who admitted misrepresentation: 26 per cent said they exaggerated existing symptoms, and 17 per cent said they fabricated symptoms entirely. The most commonly faked complaints were cold-related: fever, cough and sore throat. Parents were equally likely to misrepresent symptoms on behalf of a child, with 27 per cent reporting they had done so for their children. The most common motivations were feeling severely ill and believing antibiotics were the only effective treatment, combined with pressure to return to work quickly. The study found that greater knowledge of antibiotics and an aversion to taking them were associated with lower odds of misrepresentation. Researchers warned the findings highlight a significant driver of antibiotic overuse and the broader global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
