Americans popping more prescription drugs

William Atkins
Sunday, 05 September 2010 00:59

Science - Health

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription drug use in the United States has been steadily climbing over the past ten or so years. The CDC does not feel the trend will end anytime soon.

 

The study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is called “NCHS Data Brief No. 42, September 2010”.

One statistic within the article states that the percentage of U.S. citizens who took at least one prescription drug increased from 43.5% in 1999-2000 to 48.3% in 2007-2008.

The NCHS, or the National Center for Health Statistics, which is part of the CDC, also states within its report the following:

•    The taking of two or more drugs increased from 25.4% in 1999-2000 to 31.2% in 2007-2008.

•    The use of five or more drugs climbed from 6.3% to 10.7% in that same two time periods, respectively.

According to the September 2, 2010 WebMD article “Prescription Drug Use on the Rise in U.S.” the following statistics are also included in the CDC report:

•    One of every five children and nine out of 10 older Americans reported using at least one prescription drug in the month prior to being surveyed.

•    22.4% of kids up to the age of 11 years used at least one prescription drug.

•    29.9% of young people from 12 to 19 years used at least one prescription drug.

•    48.3% of people between 20 and 59 years used at least one prescription medication.

•    88.4% of Americans age 60 years and over used at least one prescription drug, more than 76% used two or more prescription drugs in the past month, and 37% used five or more.

Page two concludes with what prescription drugs are most often used by Americans.