Fewer Use Prescription Drugs

Although it seems as though prescription drug use is on the rise, in fact the percentage of Americans who have used one or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days has declined over the past decade—from 48.3 percent in 2007–08 to 45.8 percent in 2015–16. All of the decline in prescription drug use occurred among children under age 12, their use falling from 22.4 to 18.0 percent during those years.

Percent who have used one or more prescription drugs in past 30 days, 2015–16
Total population: 45.8%
Under age 12: 18.0%
Aged 12 to 19: 27.0%
Aged 20 to 59: 46.7%
Aged 60-plus: 85.0%

Bronchodilators are the most common type of prescription drug used by children (4.3 percent use them). Teens most commonly take central nervous system stimulants for attention deficit disorder (6.2 percent). Antidepressants are the most common drug taken by people aged 20 to 59 (11.4 percent). Among those aged 60 or older, lipid-lowering drugs are number one (46.3 percent).

The use of prescription drugs varies by race and Hispanic origin. Non-Hispanic Whites are most likely to have used prescription drugs in the past 30 days, with 50 percent having taken them. Asians are least likely (33 percent). Among people aged 60-plus, however, there is little difference in prescription drug use by race and Hispanic origin, with 82 to 85 percent having taken them in the past 30 days. The biggest differences by race and Hispanic origin are in the 20-to-59 age group. The 52 percent majority of non-Hispanic Whites aged 20 to 59 have taken a prescription drug in the past 30 days compared with 45 percent of Blacks, 34 percent of Hispanics, and just 30 percent of Asians.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Prescription Drug Use in the United States, 2015–2016