The number of Americans using prescription drugs has increased over the last ten years, says a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As part of its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the CDC reports that people are more frequently turning to statins, anti-depressants, asthma controllers and mood enhancing drugs than ever before.
According to the survey, 48 percent of all adult Americans reported taking at least one prescription medication in the last year, a jump from 44 percent one decade ago. The increase also held true from youths and seniors, whose usage rose to 20 percent and 90 percent, respectively.
CDC statistician Dr. Charles F. Dillon says that the most significant increase is that of the elderly. Within that group, nearly 40 percent of all patients require five or more prescription drugs.
Dillon says he and his team thought the increase in senior drug use "was just incredible," but adds that as health care costs continue to rise they "know there is a safety risk in that group."
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