Cultural Thermometer | prescription drugs
I’ve blogged in the past about the importance of church leaders taking the time to be current on issues and data that shine light on what our culture is like so that we can better meet the needs of our communities. Today WebMD published a list of the 10 most prescribed drugs in the US. I saw the link in my news reader and as I was clicking on it I was forming my hypothesis about what would be on it. I immediately had thoughts about ADD drugs and other psycho inhibiters and/or anti depressants.
To tell you the truth I was kind of shocked upon seeing the list and the fact that drugs like that weren’t even in the top 10. Take a look:
- Hydrocodone (combined with acetaminophen) — 131.2 million prescriptions
- Generic Zocor (simvastatin), a cholesterol-lowering statin drug — 94.1 million prescriptions
- Lisinopril (brand names include Prinivil and Zestril), a blood pressure drug — 87.4 million prescriptions
- Generic Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium), synthetic thyroid hormone — 70.5 million prescriptions
- Generic Norvasc (amlodipine besylate), an angina/blood pressure drug — 57.2 million prescriptions
- Generic Prilosec (omeprazole), an antacid drug — 53.4 million prescriptions (does not include over-the-counter sales)
- Azithromycin (brand names include Z-Pak and Zithromax), an antibiotic — 52.6 million prescriptions
- Amoxicillin (various brand names), an antibiotic — 52.3 million prescriptions
- Generic Glucophage (metformin), a diabetes drug — 48.3 million prescriptions
- Hydrochlorothiazide (various brand names), a water pill used to lower blood pressure — 47.8 million prescriptions.
A quick read through that list and it’s pretty blaring what major need Americans have. Seven of the ten are drugs directly related too or closely tied to conditions that are a result of bad diet. Granted some of them are also prescribed to fairly healthy elderly people dealing with issues that are more hereditary.
I’m not a health expert by any means but it is important to me and what I do to have a pulse of the people I intend to effect change in.
What can the church do to make a difference in this area? Locally? Nationally?
But even more so; why hasn’t the church been doing anything up until now?
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