Drugs win drug war: 70-percent of Americans are on prescription drugs

Almost 7 in 10 Americans use at least one prescription drug and almost half take two, with antibiotics, antidepressants and opioid painkillers topping the list, finds a study from the Mayo Clinic. Women and older adults receive the most prescriptions while antibiotics, vaccines and anti-asthma drugs were most prescribed for people under 19. One might assume that drugs for chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease would top the list but antidepressants came in second, suggesting that mental health is a huge national issue. “And the third most common drugs were opioids, which is a bit concerning considering their addicting nature," says study author Jennifer St. Sauver, Ph.D.