Posted on 08/12/2008 3:35:06 AM PDT by GOP_Raider
You probably never stopped to think if where you live has anything to do with the number of prescription medications you're taking. But if you live in the American South, chances are you take more medications than you would if you lived on the other side of the Mason-Dixon Line.
In fact, when it comes to residents popping the largest numbers of pills, Southern states beat the average by a long shot. States filled an average 11.1 retail prescriptions per capita in 2006, according to the latest figures compiled by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation's statehealthfacts.org and Vector One: National, data provider Verispan's national-level prescription and patient tracking service.
Well above that average is West Virginia, which came in first with 17.2 retail prescriptions filled per capita, followed by Missouri, 15.9; Tennessee, 15.8; Alabama, 15.7; and Kentucky, 15.4.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
This probably isn't the best time to bring this up, but I really couldn't get past any political implications here, esp. how the "Ten Most Medicated" states voted in recent years. Probably an indicator that I am on FR too much. :(
Needs to be correlated with age, obesity, other health factors.
Hopefuly some of the drugs are fed to the University of West Virginia football team. ;O)
Tell us the top 5 drugs prescribed and we’ll figure it out.
“...highest overall prevalence of seven major drug therapy classes, including anti-hyperlipidemics (drugs that lower lipid levels in the blood), anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensives, gastrointestinal medications, antidepressants, analgesics/anti-inflamatories and estrogen.”
Makes sense considering the high populations of elderly, retirees, and minorities.
As far as Tennessee goes, several MD's and Pharmacists I know refer to the area between Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga as the "codeine triangle".....
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