The pharmaceutical industry comprises some of the most profitable corporations in the world. It seeks to “cure” us of conditions ranging from arthritis and hypertension to bipolar disorder and restless leg syndrome. “Big pharma” has pledged to help humans treat disability and disease by providing treatment in the form of little magic pills. These corporations are owned by shareholders whose liability is legally limited to the value of their initial investment. Shareholders make investments with the hopes of gaining significant monetary returns. This places drug companies in a conundrum of sorts; in that, they create panaceas for consumers, but will go out of business should those consumers be “fixed.” So what’s more important, financial gain or public interest? This question has placed them under intense scrutiny over the years, and lawsuits and skepticism abound. This article will examine the prevalence of prescription medication in the United States and its effect on the population.

The first pharmaceutical companies were formed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; however, it wasn’t until the 1950s when scientific advancements catapulted them toward great financial success. The more than 200 drug companies operating today rose to fame as they lay claim to decreased mortality rates and increased life satisfaction. As research costs grow, however, questions arise as to the affordability, quality and safety of more sophisticated medications.

In recent years, the barrage of advertisements on television, radio and print media has made it difficult to avoid promises of joy and peace in the form of a small pill. In the wake of these advertisements, physicians have been bombarded with requests from patients asking questions and requesting prescriptions for medications seen on television. A 1997 survey of physicians printed in the Journal of Family Practice found that 71 percent of physicians experience pressure to prescribe drugs they may not normally consider. “I often have patients who want to get onto a prescription medication that they’ve heard about on TV,” says Laurie Steelsmith, a naturopathic doctor in Hawaii. “Usually they want a quick fix, and these commercials offer not only freedom from pain, depression, etc. but, as you know, they also offer beautiful fields of flowers, butterflies and gorgeous sunsets … and, of course, a lot of good looking, smiling people.” According to Jon Barron, world-renowned nutraceutical researcher, president of the Baseline of Health Foundation and member of the Medical Advisory Board of The Health Sciences Institute, this type of advertising promises a “magic bullet” that allows people freedom from feeling natural human emotions. “People are made to believe that if you have a bad day, for example, or a bad series of days, that they must be clinically depressed and require medication,” he says. “Sadness is a natural aspect of human existence.”

In 2002, Americans filled more than 3 trillion prescriptions, an increase of 140 million from 2001. That’s roughly 10 for every man, woman and child. From 1996-2002, it is estimated that 50 percent of women and 40 percent of males reported using at least one prescription drug during the previous month.

It’s safe to say that prescription medication is everywhere. With drugs to help you sleep, others to keep you awake, pep you up or calm you down, it seems there is a medication for everything, including medications to overcome adverse reactions from other medications. So the burning question is: Do Americans really need to be taking drugs at all?

“There is always a time and a place that a person will need to take a prescription drug, but the bottom line is that no drug can replace a lifetime of healthy choices,” Steelsmith says. “Prescription medications should be reserved for when we really need it or while lifestyle changes are implemented, and then the goal is to discontinue taking the drug.”

Barron echoes these sentiments. However, Peter Pitts, lead advisor and counselor on pharmaceutical and food public policy issues, and former associate commissioner for external relations to the FDA, argues that prescription drugs are a necessary component of human existence, and that there is no substitute for them. “Lifestyle changes are important, but can never replace medication. There were 80,000 diabetes-related amputations last year – all of which were 100 percent preventable had medication been involved,” Pitts says. “Hundreds of millions of hypertensives go undiagnosed all over the world. These people need medication to survive.”

Barron believes that, while drugs can assist a patient along the path to health, they should never be a crutch. “It seems that people in this country, with the help of clever marketing, have come to believe in a magic bullet that will rid them of their problems. What is unfortunate is that the majority of available drugs treat only the symptoms and not the root problem.” Barron cites blood pressure medications as a prime example. “All the doctor has done is treat one symptom, high blood pressure, but has done nothing to deal with the real problem, clogged arteries. So as your arteries continue to clog to the point where even the medication no longer helps, you start getting the inevitable chest pains. Your doctor then chases the next set of symptoms and performs a coronary bypass or angioplasty to relieve the symptoms.”

It’s easy to point the finger at mega billion dollar pharmaceutical companies. You may even look to demonize the marketing team responsible for promising a lifetime of splendor. But Pitts asserts that ultimate responsibility lies in the physician’s ability to accurately match medication to patient. Steelsmith and Barron believe in personal accountability and prevention. “People seem to believe that no matter how they live their lives, the physician will be able to ‘fix’ them,” Barron says. “It’s time we take responsibility for ourselves and stop blaming outside sources for our problems. If people want to be healthy, they need to lead healthy lives. The people are going to change the way medication is viewed in this country, not the companies pushing it. If there is no need for them, they will not exist.”

“One of the tenets of natural medicine is to listen to what the body and mind are trying to tell us when things go out of balance,” Steelsmith says. “These signs and symptoms are the wisdom of the body. They are red flags that something is out of balance. To take a drug to cover up these signs is like shooting the messenger rather than treating the cause of the problem. Correcting the cause of the imbalance is the only way to truly restore health.”

So how do people take charge of their lives and begin to correct the cause of imbalance?

Education. It is only when we truly understand all facets of a problem that we can accurately pinpoint a solution. Barron suggests that people make healthy lifestyle changes and seek treatment options from a variety of sources, instead of relying solely on the primary physician.

Here in San Diego, we have naturopathic doctors, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors and others who can help you better understand your condition and work with you to determine the best course of action. Even if that means purchasing a prescription, at least you will feel confident in knowing that you exhausted all avenues.