Why Are Americans Such Voracious Pill-Poppers?

[Nous]

I started to ask: Why are Americans so sick? But when you look at the sorts of pills that Americans eat in such great quantities, you see that the purpose is often not to treat some biological illness.

According to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2013, about 70% of Americans routinely take at least one prescription drug, and more than 50% are on at least two drugs. Twenty percent of Americans have a daily regimen of 5 or more prescriptions. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130619132352.htm

The study found that the drugs most commonly prescribed are antibiotics, antidepressants and opioids. (Lists of “most prescribed drugs” often vary somewhat depending on methodology--e.g., estimating from market share vs. from a sample of number of prescriptions written.)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse informs us that while making up only 5% of the world’s population Americans consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs: https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-t...ping-pills-prescription-drug-abuse-in-america

This excessive drug-taking obviously doesn’t improve the health of Americans. Just the contrary. A recent study published in JAMA found that of adults seeing the doctor for a sore throat, 70% were prescribed antibiotics, even though only about 10% had Streptococcus, the only common cause of sore throat for which antibiotics are effective: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1745694

Injudicious antibiotic use is the primary factor in the development of drug-resistant bacteria, besides the fact that even a single course of antibiotic ravages one’s gut microbiome for some 6 months. The fact is that just because one has a bacterial infection of some sort (such as Strep), it doesn’t mean that one needs to take an antibiotic.

One can note that all three of the most commonly prescribed drugs noted above are known to cause weight gain. That’s hardly a desirable effect for the most obese nation in the world.

So what explains Americans’ inordinate prescription drug-taking? And how might this bad habit be changed?

 

[Demonslayer]

How else should we cope with the fact that Donald Trump might be our next President??

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You got some extra pills you're not gonna take???

Huh?

Huh?

Send 'em my way.

Hurry.

 

[Shiranui117]

I started to ask: Why are Americans so sick? But when you look at the sorts of pills that Americans eat in such great quantities, you see that the purpose is often not to treat some biological illness.

According to a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2013, about 70% of Americans routinely take at least one prescription drug, and more than 50% are on at least two drugs. Twenty percent of Americans have a daily regimen of 5 or more prescriptions. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130619132352.htm

The study found that the drugs most commonly prescribed are antibiotics, antidepressants and opioids. (Lists of “most prescribed drugs” often vary somewhat depending on methodology--e.g., estimating from market share vs. from a sample of number of prescriptions written.)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse informs us that while making up only 5% of the world’s population Americans consume 75% of the world’s prescription drugs: https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-t...ping-pills-prescription-drug-abuse-in-america

This excessive drug-taking obviously doesn’t improve the health of Americans. Just the contrary. A recent study published in JAMA found that of adults seeing the doctor for a sore throat, 70% were prescribed antibiotics, even though only about 10% had Streptococcus, the only common cause of sore throat for which antibiotics are effective: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1745694

Injudicious antibiotic use is the primary factor in the development of drug-resistant bacteria, besides the fact that even a single course of antibiotic ravages one’s gut microbiome for some 6 months. The fact is that just because one has a bacterial infection of some sort (such as Strep), it doesn’t mean that one needs to take an antibiotic.

One can note that all three of the most commonly prescribed drugs noted above are known to cause weight gain. That’s hardly a desirable effect for the most obese nation in the world.

So what explains Americans’ inordinate prescription drug-taking? And how might this bad habit be changed?

We do it because our doctors tell us to. The answer to almost any problem in American medicine that doesn't require surgery is to give people meds, from mental health problems to chronic back pain.

 

[metis]

We are a pretty hedonistic society, and such a demeanor wants only easy going and pleasure.

 

[Nietzsche]

We do it because our doctors tell us to. The answer to almost any problem in American medicine that doesn't require surgery is to give people meds, from mental health problems to chronic back pain.

Not their fault that most problems can be remedied by a concoction of various chemicals and such. Or at least, the symptoms of that problem. Pain(short of pain based on inflammation or the like) can't really be "fixed", you can just be made comfortable. That's why opiates are our painkillers of choice. They render you comfortable. The alternative is to numb yourself(alcohol, pregabalin, whatever you've got). The problem with that second one is that it numbs everything. Renders you incapable of operating effectively.

 

[Nietzsche]

We are a pretty hedonistic society, and such a demeanor wants only easy going and pleasure.

It's a lot ****ing harder than you might think. I'm either the world's least-effective, or simply most-miserable, hedonist.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

One of the best ways to separate people from their money is to take advantage of health-related fear - or, fear in general.

 

[Quintessence]

If I recall correctly, America is one of the few modernized nations that allows advertisements of prescription drugs to the general population. In other words, it allows capitalist marketing to manufacture a need where there isn't one in order to sell a product and turn a profit. That is one factor involved, no doubt. Additionally, if I recall correctly, America has amongst the most dysfunctional work environments of modernized nations, providing little vacation time to employees of various businesses and having longer work weeks than is average. This is a breeding ground for stress, which in turn creates health problems in both mental and physical capacities. On top of that, we have a dysfunctional health care system that should be replaced with a national, universal health care plan.

Long and short of it, the problem is systemic, and if this is regarded as a bad habit, some serious overhauls are going to have to happen for it to change. Ban advertising of drugs to non-doctors, for starters. Reform labor laws to create a healthier work-life balance for all American citizens. Provide universal health care for everyone that isn't tied to a person's employment but instead is a national system. I'd consider it somewhat miraculous of any one of these things happens in my lifetime, much less all three of these.

 

[Onoma]

They should start making them larger so people will be discouraged from eating so many

 

[Jainarayan]

from mental health problems to chronic back pain.

Stop snooping in my medicine cabinet!

 

[Rival]

Stop snooping in my medicine cabinet!

That was me, I was looking for some soma.

 

[Jainarayan]

That was me, I was looking for some soma.

Oh, c'mon over... I have extra (just a joke, folks, it's against federal law to share meds ). But that stuff is weird. Either it works or it doesn't.

 

[Augustus]

I don't know if this applies in America as I've never been there, but from my experience of for profit healthcare systems verses public healthcare systems, for profit ones scare me. This is especially true when they are poorly regulated.

When you may someday require the 'last line of defence' antibiotics, it's not very reassuring to know that doctors prescribe them for viral infections simply because they are more expensive (true story about a friend).

I had to 'train' my doctor here (SE Asia) to not give me stuff I didn't need, and to not prescribe me expensive meds when generics would do the same job (they get a commission). Once, after pointing out I didn't actually need antibiotics for my viral infection (I was only there for a doctors note to get sick pay) she told me that she knowingly prescribes meds people don't need simply because if she tells them to go home and sleep it off they will be annoyed for wasting their time/money going to the doctor (it's a 'posh' doctor by local standards so most people have medical insurance and don't care what they get as they don't pay for it anyway so they milk this for all it is worth).

Here they also try to keep people in hospital far beyond the point they actually need to simply to make more money off them. It's not great to have to try to evaluate if your doctor cares about your health (and wallet) or is simply viewing you as a cash cow. It really sickens me when they exploit poor, naive people and make them pay money they can't afford to provide medical care for their child who doesn't need it.

Public healthcare on the other hand is generally great (well based on the 3 European countries I'm familiar with) and I trust the doctor has my best interests at heart. I'd take this any day over the convenience of avoiding waiting lists, etc. that tend to exist in public systems.

 

[Nietzsche]

Oh, c'mon over... I have extra (just a joke, folks, it's against federal law to share meds ). But that stuff is weird. Either it works or it doesn't.

By which you mean it either puts your *** on the ground or there is nothing happening at all. I couldn't stand that.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Because we can't smoke pot or eat psilocybin mushrooms (legally, anyways), but instead we're told to go ahead and munch of the lab-synthesized drugs that for many things aren't as good as the natural alternatives. We're also afraid of germs, and antibiotics make money and given out like candy, despite the very real consequences of bacteria becoming treatment resistant.
We also like the think capitalism and the free market are the solution for everything, and that even things like Prozac should be a huge money maker.

 

[Onyx]

My mother died from long-term painkiller abuse. They are pretty addicting, and the more you take, the more you need. Something to be careful with.

 

[Jainarayan]

By which you mean it either puts your *** on the ground or there is nothing happening at all. I couldn't stand that.

That's exactly what it means. At least for me there's no way of knowing which way it will go at any particular time. I'm spasming left and right today (literally), have taken it twice, and... nothing.

 

[Nietzsche]

That's exactly what it means. At least for me there's no way of knowing which way it will go at any particular time. I'm spasming left and right today (literally), have taken it twice, and... nothing.

Yeah. Screw that. Powdery as hell too. Just, gah. I'm all for rolling dice with your decisions, but I expect something to happen regardless of what comes up.

My mother died from long-term painkiller abuse. They are pretty addicting, and the more you take, the more you need. Something to be careful with.

Of course, this only matters if you have an alternative. Some of us don't.

 

[idav]

So what explains Americans’ inordinate prescription drug-taking? And how might this bad habit be changed?

The healthcare system should treat the sources more than covering the symptoms.