Articles by Dr. Erdman are for informational purposes, and are not to be taken as specific medical advice.
Does it seem like more people take more medication than they
used to? In this world of quick fixes
and pain control at all costs, many more people are taking prescription drugs.
If you are an adult and do not take a regular prescription, you are now in the
minority in America. It is not your imagination that more drugs are given than
they have been in the past.
Between 1997 and 2016 the total number of prescriptions
filled in the United States increased by 85%, yet the population only increased
by 21%. A study recently found that about 8% of all prescriptions, or about
$200 billion per year, are improper and/or unnecessary. 75% of doctor visits
end in a prescription being given! 75% of Americans take at least one
prescription regularly.