In the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), along with all new drugs, the physician or other health care provider records continued medications if the patient was specifically instructed during the visit to continue the medication. A drug mention is the physician’s or other health care provider’s entry on the patient record form of a pharmaceutical agent, by any route of administration, for prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Drug mentions were collected in the NAMCS and NHAMCS. Generic as well as brand name drugs are included, as are nonprescription and prescription drugs. Up to five medications could be reported per visit until 1996; in the 1996 and subsequent NAMCS and NHAMCS surveys, up to six medications may be listed.