The U.S. has become a nation of pill poppers. How did we get here, and where, exactly, is here?
With an estimated 6.7 billion prescriptions filled in 2024, that’s over 19 prescriptions of all types (not just pills) per person per year—and that’s spread across the whole population, from newborns to 100-year-olds. In 2015, it was around 4.4 billion. That means there has been more than a 50% increase in just 10 years. What changed? Are we really 50% sicker…or just 50% more medicated?
Never Ending
Now, let’s be real. Not everyone is taking 19 prescriptions each year. So, that means that some people, many people, are taking more prescriptions each year to make up the difference. Adults, especially older adults and those with chronic conditions, are shouldering the bulk. They take them day in and day out, often multiple pills at every meal. And most of them will never stop.
How Many of These Pills Actually Cure Anything?
That’s the question nobody seems to ask.
Most prescription drugs are not cures. They are symptom managers, disease suppressors, or lifetime crutches that keep you barely functioning while your body continues to decline. Yes, some drugs save lives in emergencies, and some are essential short-term interventions. But that’s not what most people are taking.
Think about it:
- Statins don’t cure heart disease. They manage cholesterol while you keep eating the same way.
- Antidepressants don’t resolve trauma. They numb the pain.
- Antidiabetics don’t reverse diabetes. They regulate blood sugar while the root cause remains untouched.
- Pain relievers don’t heal. They disconnect you from the warning signals of your own body.
But that’s not all of it. Almost all drugs come with a long list of side effects ranging from mild to life-altering and even life threatening. With pharmaceuticals there’s always a tradeoff. Take this to suppress that, and then take another one or more to handle the side effects. This is how polypharmacy begins.
The Rising Cost of Managing Decline
In 2024, Americans spent $487 billion on prescription drugs. This is the actual amount paid by patients and insurance after rebates and discounts. That’s more than the GDP of many countries including Finland, Norway, Hong Kong, Portugal, and Greece—just to name a few. And the amount we spend on prescription drugs is projected to keep growing, with a 9-11% estimated increase in spending in 2025.
Today we have over 23,000 FDA-approved prescription drugs on the market. Do we really believe there are 23,000 diseases? Or have we medicalized what used to be called life?
What’s the Alternative?
The 100 Year LifestyleⓇ is all about living at 100% for 100 years—with your mind sharp, your body strong, and your spirit fully alive. That doesn’t come in a bottle. It comes from how you live.
It’s your:
- Food choices
- Movement habits
- Sleep quality
- Mindset and emotional resilience
- Community and connection
- Nervous system health (chiropractic care)
Every prescription comes with a price. It’s a high price and it’s not just financial. It can cost you your vitality, your independence, and your trust in your own body. Lifestyle, on the other hand, pays dividends you can feel and live.
Take a Look at Your Medicine Cabinet
This isn’t about shame. It’s about awareness. How many prescriptions for antibiotics have you or your loved ones taken in the last 12 months? How about allergies? Did you forget about those? This isn’t about shame, it’s about awareness. Would you say your prescriptions actually help you heal, or are they just keeping things from getting worse? How many actually made you feel better? Have you ever regretted taking a prescription because of the side effects?
While they aren’t as common, there are many people in this country and around the world who do not, refuse, to take pharmaceuticals. And they go on to live healthy, long lives.
Your body is incredibly adaptable. When you stop numbing the signals and start listening to them, healing becomes possible. When you prioritize lifestyle, everything changes.
It’s Time to Rethink the Script
I’m not telling you not to take any pharmaceuticals ever. What we really need to do is to not normalize this level of dependency. Let’s not accept this “pharmaceutical lifestyle” that got us where we are as a country. Let’s question it. Challenge it. Change it.
Medication may have its place. However, it should never take the place of responsibility, accountability, and self-care.
The 100 Year LifestyleⓇ isn’t just about living long—it’s about living well. To, “well” means drug-free, pain-free, and fully alive. That’s the life you deserve. It’s the life we want for you.
Let’s put you in touch with a 100 Year LifestyleⓇ provider near you who can help you avoid or trade-in your pharmaceutical lifestyle. Healthy longevity is your birthright.
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