NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

u.s. department of health and human services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Prescription Drug Use Continues to Increase:

U.S. Prescription Drug Data for 2007–2008

Qiuping Gu, M.D., Ph.D.; Charles F. Dillon, M.D., Ph.D.; and Vicki L. Burt, Sc.M., R.N. 

Key findings

•	 Over the last 10 years, the 

percentage of Americans who 

took at least one prescription 

drug in the past month 

increased from 44% to 48%. 

The use of two or more drugs 

increased from 25% to 31%. 

The use of five or more drugs

increased from 6% to 11%.

•	 In 2007–2008, 1 out of every 

5 children and 9 out of 10 older 

Americans reported using at 

least one prescription drug in 

the past month.

•	 Those who were without 

a regular place for health 

care, health insurance, or 

prescription drug benefit had

less prescription drug use 

compared with those who had 

these benefits.

•	 The most commonly used 

types of drugs included: asthma 

medicines for children, central 

nervous system stimulants for 

adolescents, antidepressants 

for middle-aged adults, and 

cholesterol lowering drugs for 

older Americans.

In the United States, spending for prescription drugs was $234.1 billion 

in 2008, which was more than double what was spent in 1999 (1). As new 

drugs are introduced and new uses for old drugs are found, more patients 

can have improved health and quality of life with the appropriate use of 

prescription drugs. Current prescription drug use patterns need to be better 

understood. This report provides an overview of current prescription drug use 

in the United States, how many and what kinds of drugs are currently being 

prescribed, and who receives them.

Keywords: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) • 

medication • prevalence • trends

What are the trends in prescription drug use in the United 

States over the past 10 years?

Prescription drug use in the United States increased from 1999–2000 through 

2007–2008 (Figure 1).

0

10

20

30

40

50

43.5

25.4

6.3

46.2

28.6

8.3

47.6

31.1

10.2

46.8

30.9

10.1

1

48.3

1

31.2

1

10.7

Use of 5 or more drugs

Use of 2 or more drugs

Use of 1 or more drugs

1999–2000 2001–2002 2003–2004 2005–2006 2007–2008

1Significant linear trend from 1999–2000 through 2007–2008.

NOTE: Age adjusted by direct method to the year 2000 projected U.S. population. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Figure 1. Trends in the percentage of persons using prescription drugs: United States, 1999–2008

Year

Percent
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  2  ■

•	 The percentage of Americans who used at least one prescription drug in the past month 

increased from 44% in 1999–2000 to 48% in 2007–2008.

•	 The percentage of persons who used two or more prescription drugs increased from 25% in 

1999–2000 to 31% in 2007–2008. 

•	 The percentage of persons who used five or more prescription drugs increased from 6% in

1999–2000 to 11% in 2007–2008. 

What percentage of Americans used multiple prescription drugs in the past 

month and how did this vary by age?

 The use of multiple prescription drugs in the past month varied by age (Figure 2).

•	 Among children (under age 12), less than 10% used two or more prescription drugs in the 

past month and only 1% used five or more.

•	 Among older Americans (aged 60 and over), more than 76% used two or more prescription 

drugs and 37% used five or more.

1Estimate is unstable; the relative standard error is greater than 30%. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Figure 2. Percentage of prescription drugs used in the past month, by age: United States, 2007–2008

0

10

20

30

14.1

4.6

2.7

0.9 1

0.9

6.9

4.8

9.4 7.9

17.3

19.6

11.4 12.0 12.4

27.3

36.7 40

12–19 20–59 60 and over

Age in years

0–11

Percent

1 drug 2 drugs 3–4 drugs 5 or more drugs
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  3  ■

Did prescription drug use vary among demographic subgroups? 

There were differences in prescription drug use by age, sex, and race and ethnicity (Figure 3).

•	 Prescription drug use increased with age.

•	 Women were more likely to use prescription drugs than men.

•	 The non-Hispanic white population had the highest prescription drug use and the MexicanAmerican population had the lowest.

1Significant linear trend over age.

2Significantly different from men.

3Significantly different from Non-Hispanic black and Mexican-American persons.

4Significantly different from Mexican-American persons.

5Age adjusted by direct method to the year 2000 projected U.S. population.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Figure 3. Percentage of use of at least one prescription drug, by age, sex, and race and ethnicity: United States, 2007–2008 Percent

0

20

40

60

80

100

60 and

over

0–11 M 12–19 20–59 en

22.4

29.9

48.3

1

88.4

43.2

2

53.3 3

54.3

4

42.0

33.9

Women

Sex5

White Black Mexican

American

Race and ethnicity5

Non-Hispanic

Age in years
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  4  ■

What is the relationship between access to health care services and 

prescription drug use?

Having a regular source of health care, health insurance, and health insurance with prescription 

drug benefits were all associated with increased use of prescribed medicines (Figure 4).

•	 Persons with a regular place for health care were 2.7 times as likely to have used 

prescription drugs in the past month as those without a regular place for health care. 

•	 Those with health insurance were almost twice as likely to have used at least one 

prescription drug in the past month as those without health insurance coverage.

•	 Among people with health insurance, those having a prescription drug benefit were 22%

more likely to use prescription drugs than those who did not have this benefit.

1Significantly different from "no" category.

2Among persons with health insurance.

NOTE: Age adjusted by direct method to the year 2000 projected U.S. population. 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Figure 4. Relation of access to health care services to prescription drug use: United States, 2007–2008 

0

20

40

60 1

52.5

19.7

1

52.8

28.5

1

53.6

44.0

Have prescription drug benefit2 Have regular health care Have health insurance

Percent

Yes No
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  5  ■

What were the most frequently used types of prescription drugs?

The types of prescription drugs used by Americans varied by age (Figure 5).

The most commonly used types of prescription drugs in the United States by age were:

•	 Bronchodilators for children aged 0–11.

•	 Central nervous system stimulants for adolescents aged 12–19.

•	 Antidepressants for adults aged 20–59.

•	 Cholesterol lowering drugs for adults aged 60 and over.

Among children under age 6, penicillin antibiotics were the most frequently used prescription 

drugs.

Diuretics and β-blockers were also very commonly used drugs in adults and older Americans.

These are usually used to treat high blood pressure and heart problems.

NOTES: Primary indication for the use of the drug class is in parentheses. CNS is central nervous system.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Figure 5. Percentage of prescription drugs used most often, by drug type and age group: United States, 2007–2008 Age group and drug type

0 10

3.7

3.9

5.7

4.8

5.4

6.1

8.4

10.1

10.8

19.9

26.4

44.9

20 30 40 50

Cholesterol lowering drugs

ß-blockers (high blood pressure, heart disease)

Diuretics (high blood pressure, heart disease)

Antidepressants

Analgesics (pain relief)

Cholesterol lowering drugs

CNS stimulants (atttention deficit disorder)

Bronchodilators (asthma)

Antidepressants

Bronchodilators (asthma)

Leukotriene modifiers (asthma, allergies)

Penicillins (treat infections)

Percent

Children aged 0–11

Adolescents aged 12–19

Adults aged 20–59

Older adults aged 60 and over
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  6  ■

Summary

Over the last decade the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the 

past month increased by 10%. The use of multiple prescription drugs increased by 20% and the 

use of five or more drugs increased by 70%. By 2007–2008, one-half of Americans used at least

one or more prescription drugs; and 1 out of 10 used five or more. One out of every five children

used at least one or more prescription drugs compared with 9 of every 10 adults aged 60 and over. 

Women were more likely to use prescription drugs than were men. Those who were without a 

regular place for health care, health insurance, or prescription drug benefit were less likely to have

used prescription medication compared with their counterparts. 

The types of prescription drugs that were most commonly used were asthma medicines for 

children, central nervous system stimulants for adolescents, antidepressants for middle-aged 

adults, and cholesterol lowering and high blood pressure drugs for older Americans. These 

patterns reflect the main chronic diseases common at these ages, but may also likely reflect more

aggressive treatments for chronic medical conditions such as high cholesterol and high blood 

pressure as recommended in the updated clinical guidelines (2,3). 

Those without a regular place for health care, health insurance, or prescription drug benefits had

lower prescription drug use rates. Lack of access to medicines may impact health and quality of 

life, as prescription drugs are essential to treat acute and chronic diseases. 

Finally, almost 40% of older Americans used five or more prescription drugs in the past month.

This likely reflects the need to treat the many diseases that commonly occur in this age group;

however, excessive prescribing or polypharmacy is also an acknowledged safety risk for older 

Americans, and a continuing challenge that may contribute to adverse drug events, medication 

compliance issues, and increased health care costs (4–6). 

Definitions

Prescription drug use: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants 

were asked if they had taken a prescription drug in the past month. Those who answered “yes” 

were asked to show the interviewer the medication containers of all prescription drugs. For each 

drug reported, the interviewer recorded the product’s complete name from the container (7). 

Therapeutic drug class (type of drugs): Prescription drugs were classified based on the three-level

nested therapeutic classification scheme of Cerner Multum’s Lexicon. Up to four classes were

assigned to each drug. The most commonly cited second level of drug categorical codes were 

used in this analysis (7).

Health care access: Based on the question, “Is there a place you usually go when you are sick or 

you need advice about your health?” 

Health insurance coverage: Based on the question, “Are you covered by health insurance or some 

other kind of health care plan?” 

Prescription drug benefit: Based on the question, “Do any of these plans cover any part of cost of 

prescriptions?” 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

■  7  ■

Data source and methods

NHANES data were used for these analyses (7). NHANES is designed to monitor the health and 

nutritional status of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. NHANES is nationally 

representative. Sample weights, accounting for the differential probabilities of selection, 

nonresponse, and noncoverage were used for analyses. Variance estimates accounted for the 

complex survey design using Taylor series linearization. Apart from age-specific estimates, all

estimates were age adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population using four age groups: under 

age 12, 12–19, 20–59, and 60 and over (8). Trends were tested to evaluate changes in estimates 

across survey periods and age groups. Differences among groups were evaluated using a 

univariate t statistic. All significance tests were two-sided using p < 0.05 as the level of statistical 

significance. For comparison of estimates by race and ethnic groups, adjustments for multiple

comparisons were made using the Bonferroni method (9). Reported differences are statistically 

significant unless otherwise indicated. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS version 9.2

(SAS Institute, Cary, N.C.) and SUDAAN version 10.0 (Research Triangle Institute, Research 

Triangle Park, N.C.).

About the authors

Qiuping Gu, Charles F. Dillon, and Vicki L. Burt are with the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination 

Surveys. 

References

1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. National Health Expenditure Accounts, 

Historical. Available from: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/.

2. National Cholesterol Education Program expert panel on Detection, Evaluation, and 

Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Third report of 

the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) expert panel on Detection, Evaluation, 

and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) final report.

Circulation 106(25):3143–421. 2002.

3. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr, et al. Seventh 

report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of 

High Blood Pressure. Hypertension 42(6):1206–52. 2003.

4. Qato DM, Alexander GC, Conti RM, Johnson M, Schumm P, Lindau ST. Use of prescription 

and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements among older adults in the United 

States. JAMA 300(24):2867–78. 2008.

5. O’Mahony D, Gallagher PF. Inappropriate prescribing in the older population: Need for new 

criteria. Age Ageing 37(2):138–41. 2008.

6. Trygstad TK, Christensen DB, Wegner SE, Sullivan R, Garmise JM. Analysis of the North 

Carolina long-term care polypharmacy initiative: A multiple-cohort approach using propensityscore matching for both evaluation and targeting. Clin Ther 31(9):2018–37. 2009.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 42 ■ September 2010

7. CDC. National Center for Health Statistics. National Health and 

Nutrition Examination Surveys, 1999–2008. Available from: http://www.cdc.

gov/nchs/nhanes/nhanes_questionnaires.htm.

8. Klein RJ, Schoenborn CA. Age adjustment using the 2000 projected 

U.S. population. Healthy People Statistical Notes, no 20. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2001. 

9. Miller RG Jr. Developments in multiple comparisons 1966–1976. J Am 

Stat Assoc 72(360):779–88. 1977.

Suggested citation

Gu Q, Dillon CF, Burt VL. Prescription drug 

use continues to increase: U.S. prescription 

drug data for 2007–2008. NCHS data brief, 

no 42. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for 

Health Statistics. 2010.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

 Director for Science

Division of Health and Nutrition 

Examination Surveys

Cliff L. Johnson, M.S.P.H., Director

U.S. Department of

Health & Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, MD 20782

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use, $300

To receive this publication regularly, contact the 

National Center for Health Statistics by

calling 1–800–232–4636

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

First Class mAIL

Postage & Fees Paid 

CDC/NCHS

Permit No. G-284

ISSN 1941–4927 (Print ed.)

ISSN 1941–4935 (Online ed.)

CS215116

T37112 (09/2010)

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2010–1209