US doctors are too quick to reach for their prescription pads according to the Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice. Half of all Americans took at least one prescription drug during the previous month and 1/3 of all people over 60 take five or more drugs! MDs also tend to use the latest and greatest pills rather than those that have been time tested. Often what is bothering people can be resolved through lifestyle changes that include diet, exercise, stress reduction etc. There are billions of dollars spent every year on drugs with unproven benefits. Lastly, it is difficult for MDs to get information about drugs that is unbiased.
