Study: 70 percent of Americans take prescription drugs

A new study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that nearly 70 percent of Americans take prescription drugs (Source: “7 out of 10 Americans Take a Prescription Drug: Study,” U.S. News and World Report, June 27, 2013).

The researchers also found that more than half of patients take two prescription drugs, while 20 percent take five or more prescription medications.

The findings come from an analysis of 2009 statistics from people living in Olmsted County, Minn., near the Mayo Clinic. The study’s authors believe the findings are comparable to people living elsewhere in the United States.

According to the study, 17 percent of patients took antibiotics, 13 percent took antidepressants, 13 percent took opioids (painkillers that include Oxycontin and Vicodin), 11 percent used high blood pressure drugs and 11 percent got vaccines. Drugs were prescribed to both men and women in all age groups. The exception was high blood pressure drugs, which were seldom prescribed before age 30.