As of writing this article, 41 million Americans have prescriptions for Adderall, the most common drug used to treat ADHD. This shocking figure has been steadily increasing for the past fifteen years, with nearly a 150% rise since 2009. Adderall is not alone; there has also been a significant increase in prescriptions for SSRIs (antidepressants), anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications), opioid painkillers, Metformin, statins, and sleep medications.

But why?

Since 2009 there has been a dramatic rise in the diagnoses of all these drug-treatable conditions. ADHD diagnoses have skyrocketed, diabetes rates are soaring, and more people are being classed as insomniacs than ever before. The list is almost endless.

Oddly enough, the criteria for diagnosing ADHD, depression, anxiety and so on have not changed. There was no expansion of symptoms allowing for more individuals to be diagnosed. However, during the 2010s, a new form of healthcare emerged, known as telehealth. Designed as a method to reduce GP wait times, telehealth allows patients to video call their practitioners and request prescriptions for almost any mental health disorder without needing to attend a face-to-face consultation.

Undoubtedly, this has made healthcare more accessible for millions of people, especially those living in America. Patients in remote areas can now set up appointments, receive diagnoses, and get emailed a prescription all without ever leaving their homes. However, the alarming increase in prescriptions since telehealth’s adoption leaves me questioning whether this convenience outweighs the consequences.

For example, 45.8% of all Americans are on some form of drug treatment, equating to roughly 162 million people. Before telehealth existed, it was around 30%. Another worrying statistic shows that American men will spend roughly 48% of their lives on prescription medication, while American women will spend 60%. Also, the average American on medication spends 14% of their out-of-pocket expenditures on treatments. This led to a staggering $335 billion being spent on prescriptions in 2018 alone, with this figure rising year on year.

Even more concerning is the substantial spike in prescriptions during and after COVID-19. As a result of the shutdown of infrastructure, almost every American had to rely on telehealth for their prescriptions. The abuse of this system led to a 27% increase in diabetes medication, a 70% rise in SSRIs, a 16% increase in Adderall, and a 20% rise in anti-anxiety medications.

Consequently, in the United States, 18% of children under 11 years old are on prescription drugs, 27% of adolescents, 47% of adults, and 85% of those over 60.

The societal shift towards a “quick fix” culture has either encouraged people to ignore lifestyle changes or disregard non-medical treatments altogether. This has a profound impact on the American population. Not only does it leave nearly half the population dependent on the medical system for prescriptions, but it also masks the underlying condition rather than addressing its root cause. Without seeking to understand the reasons behind these conditions, patients risk losing accountability and avoiding any internal control over their health.

Therefore, it is crucial to recognise that modern medicine has provided life-saving treatments for millions of people. However, the over-reliance on and ease of access to prescription medication has, in my opinion, far more iatrogenic effects than we may realise. Such a system would only work if at-risk individuals took the time to explore every lifestyle change before receiving medication.

For instance, those diagnosed with depression should engage in regular exercise and improve their diets before resorting to potentially addictive hormonal disruptors like SSRIs. Likewise, individuals diagnosed with diabetes should make all necessary lifestyle changes before being prescribed biguanides. This approach should apply to every environmentally related disorder that humans can develop.

If we, as individuals, choose to rely on easily accessible medication without considering the underlying effects and root causes of our disorders, we may never truly overcome them. While the disorders may become more manageable, no one should have to live with conditions that might never have developed in the first place.