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For many Americans, prescription medications are a regular part of their daily lives. While CivicScience continues to observe the rise of GLP-1 medications and their impact, it’s important to also consider the wider trends in prescription medication usage among Americans. New CivicScience data reveals how these habits have evolved over the past two years and what implications this may have moving forward.
More Americans Are Taking 4+ Prescriptions Daily
New CivicScience data as of mid-February finds that 68% of Americans report taking at least one prescription medication daily, up slightly from an average of 67% in 2023. A deeper look reveals an even more noteworthy increase – the percentage of Americans taking four or more prescription medications daily has climbed four percentage points, and now as much as 26% say they’re taking 4+ prescriptions per day.
Unsurprisingly, Americans 55 and up are the most likely to report taking at least one prescription and more than three prescriptions daily, while those aged 18-24 are the least likely to take any.
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Other Key Data to Know:
- Consumers are most likely (by over 2 to 1) to say they most often fill their prescriptions at stand-alone retail pharmacies (e.g., CVS or Walgreens). The next most common option is big-box pharmacies (e.g., Walmart or Target), followed by a local pharmacy or drug store. Online-only is the least common option used.
- Thirty-four percent of those taking 3+ prescriptions daily are on government-assisted health insurance plans (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid), compared to 21% of those taking just one daily.
Americans Struggle to Balance Growing Regimens and Rising Costs
Coinciding with the rise in prescription medication use is a sharp increase in costs, with prices rising 39% since 2014. CivicScience data highlight the impact of these rising costs – over the past 12 months, 28% of Americans with prescribed medications have had to forgo taking them as directed due to the cost of their medications. That percentage climbs to 33% among those who take three or more prescriptions daily.
Although Gen Z adults (ages 18-24) are among the least likely to take a daily prescription, they are the most likely to struggle with it due to the cost. In contrast, Americans aged 55 and older are the least likely to report cost-related issues with taking their prescriptions as prescribed. Still, at least one in five of each age group reported having issues.
The Shifting Habits of Consumers Taking 3+ Prescriptions Daily
CivicScience data highlights three areas Americans taking at least three prescription medications daily have altered their spending and eating habits recently and over the past two years:
- They’re prioritizing spending less on clothing, shoes, and apparel (50%); full-service restaurants (49%); and live entertainment (49%) in response to general rising prices.
- They’re now less likely to go out to eat or order takeout for dinner, with 37% saying they rarely/never do this, up from an average of 31% throughout 2023.
- Sixty-eight percent of those on 3+ daily prescriptions report eating unhealthy snacks (e.g., candy, chips) most often, up from 63% in 2023, though they have become slightly less likely to snack overall.
Take our Poll: When it comes to prescription drug costs, what are you more likely to do?
The rising number of Americans taking multiple daily prescriptions, coupled with escalating costs, is driving a growing strain on household budgets and consumer spending habits. As prescription regimens become more demanding amid rising costs and looming impacts of tariffs, shifts in discretionary spending and lifestyle choices may soon become even more pronounced.
