Prescription drug use trends
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Overall Trends in Prescription Drug Use in the United States
Prescription drug use in the United States has increased significantly over the past two decades. Among adults, the percentage using any prescription drug rose from 51% in 1999-2000 to 59% in 2011-2012, with polypharmacy (use of five or more drugs) nearly doubling from 8.2% to 15% during the same period. These increases were observed across most drug classes, including antihyperlipidemic agents, antidepressants, proton-pump inhibitors, and muscle relaxants, and remained significant even after adjusting for age differences in the population Kantor2015Kantor2016. More recent data show that prescription drug use patterns continue to shift in response to changing health needs, clinical guidelines, and policy changes .
Prescription Drug Use by Age Group
Adults
Adults are taking prescription drugs for a substantial portion of their lives. In 2019, newborns could expect to spend about half their lives on prescription medications—47.5 years for women and 36.8 years for men. The number of years spent taking five or more drugs has also increased, especially for statins, antihypertensives, and antidepressants. There are notable differences by race and ethnicity, with non-Hispanic Whites using the most prescription drugs, Hispanics the least, and non-Hispanic Blacks falling in between .
Children and Adolescents
In contrast to adults, prescription drug use among children and adolescents has slightly decreased. From 1999-2002 to 2011-2014, the percentage of children and adolescents using any prescription medication in the past 30 days dropped from 24.6% to 21.9%. However, the use of certain medications, such as those for asthma, ADHD, and contraceptives, increased, while antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory medications saw declines . Similarly, outpatient prescriptions for children decreased by 7% from 2002 to 2010, with notable reductions in antibiotics, allergy, pain, and depression medications, but increases in asthma, ADHD, and contraceptive prescriptions .
Trends in Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse
Prescription drug misuse and abuse have also shown changing patterns. The prevalence of abuse and dependence on sedatives, tranquilizers, opioids, and stimulants increased from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. Most individuals with prescription drug use disorders also had another substance use disorder, but only a minority received treatment . Among older adults, nonmedical use of prescription opioids, tranquilizers, and stimulants has increased, raising concerns about adverse events in this population . Recent years have seen declines in opioid misuse among those under 35, but little change among adults 35 and older or in non-opioid prescription drug misuse .
Prescription Drug Use by Therapeutic Class
The use of specific drug classes has shifted over time. For example, in diabetes care, prescriptions for newer medications like SGLT-2 inhibitors, metformin, gliptins, and GLP-1 agonists have increased, while sulfonylurea use has declined. These changes often occur even before new clinical guidelines are published, indicating that physicians may respond quickly to emerging evidence and outcomes data .
Conclusion
Prescription drug use in the United States has increased overall, especially among adults, with a growing trend toward polypharmacy and longer durations of use. While use among children and adolescents has declined slightly, certain medication classes have seen increased use. Prescription drug misuse remains a significant concern, particularly among older adults. Patterns of use continue to evolve in response to medical, demographic, and policy changes, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and research Kantor2015Martin2019Kantor2016+7 MORE.
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