Overprescription of Medication
There’s a Pill for That!
Nowadays, there is practically a pill for almost any condition, symptom, or slightest abnormality in the human body. The moment when someone starts to feel any minor inconvenience or discomfort, they go running to their doctor to write a prescription to make it all better. Whether it’s taking a pill to lose weight, or being unable to “perform” sexually, America has become a pill-popping nation. Last year, researchers from Mayo Clinic (a non-profit medical and research center) found that nearly 70 percent of Americans were on at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent of them were taking more than five prescriptions at once (“Public Citizen”). There is no doubt that for many people, prescriptions are beneficial and even lifesaving in some cases, but hundreds of millions of these prescriptions are either entirely unnecessary or incredibly dangerous. I believe that America has become dependent on taking prescription drugs for instant relief and it is time for alternative methods to be put into action. According to the Center of Disease Control, the percent of people using at least one prescription drug in the past month increased nearly 50 percent between 2007 and 2010 (“Public Citizen”). There are many reasons for this increase. First, many prescription medications are now being advertised through direct marketing on television commercials or in magazines. Many people see these commercials and decide that they have the symptoms described and are then sucked into the fake reality that they have a problem when they really don’t. People soon start self-diagnosing and telling their doctors what they should prescribe them instead of visa versa. Another reason why prescription drug use is on the rise is because of the side effects of other medications. All medications have side effects, and some are worse than others. When a doctor prescribes one drug for a certain treatment, it can cause side effects such as depression,
Nowadays, there is practically a pill for almost any condition, symptom, or slightest abnormality in the human body. The moment when someone starts to feel any minor inconvenience or discomfort, they go running to their doctor to write a prescription to make it all better. Whether it’s taking a pill to lose weight, or being unable to “perform” sexually, America has become a pill-popping nation. Last year, researchers from Mayo Clinic (a non-profit medical and research center) found that nearly 70 percent of Americans were on at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent of them were taking more than five prescriptions at once (“Public Citizen”). There is no doubt that for many people, prescriptions are beneficial and even lifesaving in some cases, but hundreds of millions of these prescriptions are either entirely unnecessary or incredibly dangerous. I believe that America has become dependent on taking prescription drugs for instant relief and it is time for alternative methods to be put into action. According to the Center of Disease Control, the percent of people using at least one prescription drug in the past month increased nearly 50 percent between 2007 and 2010 (“Public Citizen”). There are many reasons for this increase. First, many prescription medications are now being advertised through direct marketing on television commercials or in magazines. Many people see these commercials and decide that they have the symptoms described and are then sucked into the fake reality that they have a problem when they really don’t. People soon start self-diagnosing and telling their doctors what they should prescribe them instead of visa versa. Another reason why prescription drug use is on the rise is because of the side effects of other medications. All medications have side effects, and some are worse than others. When a doctor prescribes one drug for a certain treatment, it can cause side effects such as depression,
Cited: Frates, Beth. Instituteoflifestylemedicine. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 2004, Web. 12 July 2013. “Public Citizen.” Worstpills. Public Citizens Help Research Group, n.d. Web. 12 July 2013. Parker, James. The 2002 Official Patient 's Sourcebook on Prescription Drug Dependence. San Diego: Icon Health Publications, 2002. Web. Weber, Leonard. Profits Before People? : Ethical Standards and the Marketing of Prescription Drugs. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2006. Web.