Other factors affecting the increase in prescription drug use are abundant advertising by drug companies.  Factors contributing to the increase in antidepressant use are added stress in daily life and an increasing number of family physicians and general pediatricians who have become more comfortable with prescribing these types of drugs.  Some, however, would view the data as a sign that more people have access to medications and that science is advancing so that once fatal diseases like some cancers, AIDS, and hemophilia are now more like chronic diseases that can be managed for longer periods. 

   While rheumatoid arthritis sufferers like us may be on the heavy use side of the equation, I see this article as a challenge to everyone to think about themselves and their families and to think about ways to live an overall healthy, less stressful life that in time could help us see a decrease in the number of chronic health conditions and prescription drug use across this country, especially for the younger generations. 

For more information about the Medco study, see http://www.medco.com