2009-06-12 | American Culture | Hits:478 | AddFavorite(0)

The quick answer is that this person may or may not require these capsules or tablets. But, the pharmaceutical industry is very big business in the U.S. If you watch TV, you’ll see ads for men’s erectile function medication, pills to combat depression, and drugs for losing weight, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. And to make sure that the viewer of these ads gets these presciptions, the ads often end with, “Ask your doctor if such-and-such a drug is right for you.” In turn, people who have—and even some who don’t have—the diseases, disorders, or conditions portrayed in the ads, visit their doctors to inquire about the latest miracle cure.

 

Unfortunately, doctors, who’ve received samples and various other benefits from drug makers, are sometimes too quick to prescribe these medications. As a result, millions of people are taking drugs they don’t really need or could defer taking until they’ve explored other options, such as dieting and exercising. In one year alone (2000), smoking, being overweight or obese, and alcohol consumption accounted for more than one-third of all deaths. Even so, most Americans are reluctant to make the significant behavior modifications advocated by preventive health experts like Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

 

Instead, many Americans want quick results and are less inclined to pursue slower approaches, such as cutting down on eating red meat and fast food or walking instead of sitting or driving. As a result, an individual who has slightly-elevated cholesterol or blood pressure might “pop” (take) pills rather than make lifestyle changes. A person who’s heavy might opt to take diet pills or even have gastrointestinal surgery rather than going on a strict diet and exercise regime. And someone who’s aging might decide to take hormones, even if these medications pose serious risks.

 

Although some Americans exercise regularly, watch their diets, and get checkups with their doctors—in other words, take a preventive approach to staying healthy—these persons are in the minority. Moreover, because an estimated 47 million Americans don’t have health care insurance or coverage, many can’t afford to have preventive care, like checkups, and, therefore, resort to whatever medications they can obtain whenever they can.

 

Of course, an additional downside to Americans using prescriptions to handle their healthcare problems is that teenagers sometimes take their parents’ pills to get high. Such prescription drug abuse occurs frequently—1 in 5 teens does so. 

 

One could say that Americans using prescriptions to handle their health problems is the product of a perfect storm—a powerful pharmaceutical industry that spends millions on advertising to consumers, marketing to doctors, and contributing to and lobbying political candidates and consumers who can’t afford to take care of themselves, have unhealthy habits they’re unwilling to give up, or want a quick fix or an easy way out.