Therapeutic Drug Use
Data are for the U.S.
Prescription drug use
- Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days: 48.6% (2015-2018)
- Percent of persons using three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 24% (2015-2018)
- Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 12.8% (2015-2018)
Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 39 pdf icon[PDF – 9.8 MB]
Physician office visits
- Number of drugs provided or prescribed: 860.4 million
- Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 68.7%
- Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes:
- Analgesics
- Antihyperlipidemic agents
- Antidepressants
Hospital emergency department visits
- Number of drugs given or prescribed: 336 million
- Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 79.5%
- Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes
- Analgesics
- Minerals and electrolytes
- Antiemetic or antivertigo agents
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2018 National Summary Tables, table 20, 22pdf icon
More Data
- Trends in Prescription Drugs from Health, United States
- Prescription Opioid Use Among Adults With Chronic Pain: United States, 2019 pdf icon[PDF – 335 KB]
- Prevalence of Prescription Pain Medication Use Among Adults: United States, 2015-2018
- Trends in Opioids Prescribed at Discharge From Emergency Departments Among Adults: United States, 2006–2017 pdf icon[PDF – 437 KB]
- Prescription Drug Use Among Adults Aged 40–79 in the United States and Canada
- Physician Office Visits at Which Benzodiazepines Were Prescribed: Findings From 2014–2016 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey pdf icon[PDF – 376 KB]
- Prevalence of Prescription Opioid Analgesic Use Among Adults: United States, 2013–2016
- Opioids Prescribed at Discharge or Given During Emergency Department Visits Among Adults in the United States, 2016
- Prescription Drug Use in the United States, 2015–2016
- Antidepressant Use in Persons Aged 12 and Over: United States, 2011-2014
Page last reviewed: October 20, 2021
Content source: CDC/National Center for Health Statistics