Just Take a Pill
Pills seem to be an inevitable part of our lives. They have strange names like Lipitor, Zoloft, Zocor and Celebrex. The older we get, the greater our inventory of little brown bottles with twist-off tops that only a child can open. Added to the official amber bottles are all the over-the-counter drugs in brightly colored packaging. Many pill collections include a multivitamin and the "house" aspirin. Some households maintain a selection of herbal remedies; some even use ports and patches that dispense medicine in mysterious ways.
How did we become a pill-dependent society? It started in the late 1970s and 1980s when the pharmaceutical industry turned from depending on doctors to write prescriptions to going right to the consumer. In 1997, the FDA allowed direct marketing, and soon, consumers knew the drugs by name. Drugs like Lipitor and Prozac became household names. There was a great demand for antidepressants and statins. The result? By the 2000s, Americans were taking more pills than ever before. Today, it is estimated that up to 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug.
Our collection of prescription and over-the-counter drugs includes medications promising to control blood pressure, neuropathy pain, arthritis, and digestive challenges, among other things. Not to be left out, our dogs have their own pills that prevent heartworm and flea and tick attacks.
How did we become so dependent on the pills in our lives? Part of the problem is the seduction of constant advertising. The dramatic television commercials and glossy magazine ads promise eternal youth, sexual prowess, freedom from allergies, relief from gas, and mental well-being. Just take a pill — no problem.
There is no question that pills have changed the quality of our lives. We live longer and healthier lives benefiting from reduced cholesterol, lowered blood pressure, and other benefits that wisely prescribed medications provide. In this day and age of sophisticated drugs, no one needs to be in unnecessary pain.
When picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy, we struggle to read the small type, which warns us not to drive heavy-duty machines, sign contracts, or take medication if pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Some heavy-duty drugs warn of blindness and even death. The dire warnings do not seem to stop our fascination with medication.
As my father struggled with an array of ailments toward the end of his life, I was amazed at the number of pills he would and could take each day. His pharmacy bill each month boggled the mind. He was meticulous in the management of the many pills that he took each day. As he began to lose his sight and pills dropped to the floor, we feared Dad's faithful Scottie would have thought them dog candy. We watched the dog and master carefully. Both lived long lives, so somehow, it all worked out.
Pills are here to stay. Let's be responsible about "doing drugs." We could learn from other countries like France, Germany and Japan, who emphasize preventive care and go to pharmaceuticals when necessary.
So be thankful for the array of medications available to us for challenges we may face, but don't ignore good health habits, exercise, and a smart diet — they are just as important.
