http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B80AA127A%2D50C0%2D432E%2D8FAE%2D39C7D88B6C95%7D&siteid=mktwSAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Americans are popping more prescription pills to reduce their cholesterol, battle depression and otherwise improve their health and quality of life.
In 2000, 44 percent of Americans were taking one or more prescription drugs, up from 39 percent a decade ago, according to a report, "Health, United States 2004," from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventeen percent are on three or more medications.
"The fact that almost half of Americans are using prescription drugs is pretty astounding," said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. "Our pharmaceuticals are playing a much larger role in our health care than they were 10, 20 years ago."
Increased access to prescription-drug coverage over the years is giving people more relief, he said. But more research is needed to measure how much some may be overusing medications and if expensive drug-advertising campaigns are contributing to inappropriate use.
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"If I'd rather take a pill than walk around the block to lower my cholesterol, I'm going to do it," he said.
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