Therapeutic Drug Use

(Data are for the U.S.)

 

• Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past month: 47% (2001-2004)

Source:  Health, United States, 2008, Table 98

 

Physician office visits

• Number of drugs ordered or provided: 1.8 billion
• Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 71%
• Average number of drugs ordered or provided per visit: 2.1
• Most frequently prescribed therapeutic class: Analgesics

Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Summary, Tables 22, 23

• Hospital outpatient department visits
• Number of drugs ordered or provided: 247.7 million
• Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 75%
• Number of drugs ordered or provided per visit: 3.2
• Most frequently prescribed therapeutic class: analgesics

Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Outpatient Department Summary, Tables 19, 20, 21

• Hospital emergency department visits
• Number of drugs ordered or provided: 212.1  million
• Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 91%
• Number of drugs ordered or provided per visit: 1.8
• Most frequently prescribed therapeutic class: analgesics

Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Emergency Department Summary, Table 18, 19, 20

 

More Data

• Selected prescription and nonprescription drugs recorded during physician office and hospital outpatient department visits by age and sex:  1995-96 and 2004-05

Source: Health, United States, 2008, Table 97