This is a summary of the CDC report. Link to the report attached. There is a distinct sense that the facts have not caught up with the trending due to a lag in reporting years. But I highlight what I think is interesting on the prescription drug front. Remember this has no bearing on the over the counter drugs we take and it does not try to address the disagreements among doctors and psychiatrists about some of the drugs that are not included as psychotropics or mind altering or management drugs. For instance, a drug that is used to address one chronic ailment might have a cross over effect on the brain.
Regardless of my exaggeration...which I suggest as science fiction, it is altogether accurate to say we are the most drugged society on the planet and trending toward more use not less. What is of concern is “polypharmacy.”
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus16.pdf
See page 25
Prescription drug use over the past 40 years has been affected by many factors, including medical need, prescription drug development, increased direct-to-consumer advertising,
and expansions in health insurance and prescription drug coverage (62–64). Even though Americans are now living longer lives, a greater fraction of older Americans are living with several chronic conditions that may require multiple medications. As prescription drug use increases, however,
so do concerns about polypharmacy. Polypharmacy— which is commonly defined as taking five or more drugs— increases the risk of drug interactions, adverse drug events, nonadherence, and reduced functional capacity.
The utilization chart shows an radical increase in the use of prescriptions drugs over the last twenty years. But all we need to do is watch television to know that. And how many anti depression drugs are pushed through advertising. As a culture we are being convinced, something is wrong with us. When you have your check up don’t forget to ask your doctor about ....”name a drug”.