Drugs - Most Dispensed Prescription Drugs, Treatments For Depressive (and Other?) Disorders, Sedating Our Children

"Pill-Popping Nation." This was the title of an October 2000 article in the magazine Forecast.¹ Is it a true description of the United States? In 2001, 3.1 billion prescriptions were dispensed in the United States, a 1.2 billion increase since 1991. By 2004, the number of prescriptions dispensed is expected to reach 4 billion. In the first panel we look at the most dispensed prescriptions in 1995 and 2000. Were we being treated for the same conditions? Are the most dispensed drugs used for the most prevalent conditions?

Antidepressants made the top 10 of dispensed drugs — for in 1995 and 2000. The number of people diagnosed with depressive disorders rose by 3.7% from 2000-2001, but the number of prescriptions dispensed rose by 13.2% Why this discrepancy? The next panel examines the antidepressant market (and possible over-marketing of the drug).

Ritalin is a drug to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was/is a controversial drug for a controversial diagnosis. Between 1975 and 2000 there was a 3,900% increase in children taking this drug. The next panel examines the reasons behind this astronomic rise.

Another controversial issue we examine from various angles is the price of prescription drugs. We start by presenting the pharmaceutical industry's argument: research and development costs drive up the cost of prescription drug prices. Then, we look at the public's claim: drug advertising is causing the skyrocketing prescription drug prices. Next, we examine other angles of the issue to discover just where our prescription drug dollar is going. Is the pharmaceutical industry's argument correct, is the public's, or is there another reason for the rise in prescription drug prices?

And finally, with all the talk of overuse, misuse, and over-charging of prescription drugs, are they worth the price we pay for them? Do they drive down the costs of health care as the pharmaceutical industry claims? We attempt to shed some light on these issues in the last panel.