You may wonder why drugs cost so much more than they used to. There are many explanations, but no easy solutions to this growing dilemma. During the 1980s, inflation was the major contributor to drug costs. But in the 1990s rising drug costs have been largely due to increased use and changing drug mix. This means more people are taking more drugs to treat more conditions.
Physicians are under pressure to use all the tools available to treat diseases.
Many patients are more aware of new drug treatments due to the increased advertising by drug manufacturers in magazines and on television. This causes patients to request these new drugs from their doctors. The FDA has accelerated the approval process bringing new drugs into the market faster. Many of these new drugs offer significant therapeutic advances. Often the new drugs lessen or slow the progression of chronic diseases.