percentage of americans on prescription drugs

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Study: More using prescription drugs

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By Julie Appleby, USA TODAYThe percentage of insured Americans taking
prescription drugs for maladies ranging from high cholesterol and
blood pressure to diabetes and depression rose sharply from 2000 to
2006, a study out today finds. The use of painkillers and estrogen
declined following safety concerns about those drugs.

Where you live appears to affect what medications you take, according
to the study, which offers a rare look at geographic differences in
prescription drug use. Express Scripts, one of the USA's largest
drug-benefit firms, surveyed drug-use data for 3 million adults with
health insurance in 40 states.

PRESCRIPTION USAGE: State-by-state chart

Researchers described their findings as a wake-up call to states and
employers, noting the 2000 to 2006 increase in the use of drugs for
diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, stomach problems and
depression raised costs by 50%, or $12 billion.

Over time, the researchers note, the higher usage may save money by
preventing heart attacks, strokes and other problems. But more
prevention efforts might reduce the need for drugs. Express Scripts
promotes generic drugs and other cost-saving ideas to its clients,
including employers and insurers.

The findings show "not just the human toll, but also the economic
toll," says Emily Cox, Express Scripts' senior director of research.
Cox called the state variation "quite surprising."

Some differences appear to be linked to health factors in each state,
such as varying rates of smoking, diet and exercise. States with high
rates of obesity, including Mississippi and West Virginia, had high
use of drugs for cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure,
conditions that can be associated with obesity.

Among other state differences:

•Diabetes drug use in Mississippi is nearly double that in Minnesota.

•Michigan has the highest rate of cholesterol drug use at 13.7%.
Oregon is the lowest at 9.4%. In 2001 and 2004, federal experts issued
new guidelines calling for more aggressive treatment of cholesterol.

•About 18% of Utah residents were prescribed an anti-depressants,
twice that of the lowest state, New York, at about 9%.

The findings should spur prevention efforts, says John Buse, president
of the American Diabetes Association. "The good news is it seems
people are taking these problems more seriously," he says. "The bad
news is that this is very expensive way of dealing with the problem."

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To report corrections and clarifications, contact Reader Editor Brent
Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments
to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state
for verification.

Shelves of prescription drugs at Maximart Pharmacy in Palo Alto, Calif., in December 2007. A new study indicates the percentage of insured Americans using prescription drugs has risen sharply. 

Enlarge image Enlarge

By Paul Sakuma, AP

Shelves of prescription drugs at Maximart Pharmacy in Palo Alto,
Calif., in December 2007. A new study indicates the percentage of
insured Americans using prescription drugs has risen sharply.

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