Prescription drugs: The hidden costs to health and the planet

orAccording to the IQVIA Institute’s report, “U.S. Drug Use 2024,” health care visits, procedures, tests and vaccinations decreased, but the number of new prescriptions increased by 3%. Pharmaceutical spending in the US is expected to increase by $127 billion by 2028. This is thought to be due in part to advances in medications to treat cancer and diabetes, among others.

However, it is important to take a look at how this steady increase in prescription drug use is affecting the population. It has far-reaching effects – not only for individual health, but also for the environment. Learn about the hidden costs to your well-being and the planet that prescription drugs are doing every day and explore therapeutic alternatives.

Weaknesses of Pharmaceuticals for Health Management

While prescription drugs can be lifesaving or enhance your quality of life, relying solely on pharmaceuticals for your well-being can be harmful. If you are masking pain or other symptoms with medication, you may not be able to function without them and you are not treating the underlying issues. For example, you may take antidepressants without accompanying psychotherapy, leading to long-term addiction and a possible relapse of mental health issues. This can make you feel like you are not in control of your recovery.

In some cases, pharmaceutical drugs can harm public health. It’s important to understand that, beyond the exorbitant price of prescription drugs, they can come with other costly effects—on your overall health and the environment.

An overwriting problem

The increase in prescriptions over the years is undoubtedly due to more than just pharmaceutical advances and the introduction of new drugs. According to an extensive review of the literature by Daniel J. Safer in the Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, the drugs are being overprescribed at an alarming rate. This is of public health concern. The most commonly prescribed medications include proton pump inhibitors for stomach problems, levothyroxine for hypothyroidism, antidepressants for mental health problems, and opioids for chronic pain. Adults over 65 are most at risk for polypharmacy, or taking five or more medications simultaneously for an extended period.

Overprescribing occurs when doctors prescribe drugs in larger amounts or more often than necessary. This may be due to a number of factors, including increased medical sales or due to “doctor shopping,” where patients intentionally switch from doctor to doctor to unethically acquire drugs for recreational use. In any case, it is dangerous to overwrite. While some patients do need multiple medications, this is not always the case and can have detrimental effects – on their wallets and their overall health.

dependence

Overuse of prescription drugs can lead to addiction to said drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, common drugs like opioids and antidepressants are psychologically and physically addictive. This is not always clear to patients when they start taking medication, as they are simply looking for a way to relieve their distressing symptoms. Psychiatric medications, in particular, are often overprescribed and neglect to treat underlying psychological symptoms. Instead of taking a holistic approach, relying only on medications can lead to drug addiction.

You may experience an uncontrollable urge to recreate the pleasurable effects of the drug or to prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Over time, your body may even develop a tolerance to the medication and require higher doses to achieve the same effects. Feeding this cycle of addiction without a backup wellness routine can send you into a negative spiral for your health, both mental and physical.

Side effects

As is made clear in prescription drug advertising, not many pharmaceuticals come without potentially harmful side effects. A doctor and a patient must have a clear understanding of their mental and physical well-being to determine the safety of taking a specific drug. Medicines can interact with each other as well as with pre-existing conditions, causing unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, headache and muscle pain.

This is especially evident in older adults who often take more than one prescription at the same time. Medicines can interact and cause terrible side effects, such as fainting or seizures, which are harmful to anyone, but especially to those who are at risk of breaking bones or developing further illnesses. Mental well-being in your golden years is essential to your overall well-being. If you’re masking problems like lack of exercise, poor diet, poor sleep habits, or unhappiness with a slew of medications, you’re more likely to have these negative side effects. Additionally, you may feel as if you cannot recover or function properly without the use of medication.

Some medications can even make mental health problems worse. Drug addiction can also make you feel isolated or damage relationships in your personal and professional life. Prescription drugs are the leading cause of death in America, whether from overuse, prescription, or misuse. Especially in older adults, the side effects of confusion or dizziness can be harmful and cause injury or death. Undiagnosed conditions at any age can also be made worse by medications, including bleeding ulcers or conditions that lead to strokes and heart attacks with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. That’s all except fatal drug overdoses like opioids.

The impact of prescription drugs on the environment

The impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment is still being studied, but according to the EPA, there is a link between adverse effects and the improper manufacture and disposal of prescription drugs. Here are some of the main factors that contribute to environmental damage:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of pharmaceutical drugs, adding to climate change;
• Pharmaceutical waste leaching into water and soil, such as antibiotic residues that contribute to antimicrobial resistance in harmful insects or toxic chemicals from drugs that poison animals and aquatic life;
• Bioaccumulation of pharmaceutical products in animal and human populations, causing fertility problems and possible cancers;
• Plastic pollution and the spread of infection from needles, pill bottles and other improperly disposed pharmaceutical materials.

Pharmaceutical companies play a vital role in these harmful effects, but you can do your part by recycling old pill bottles. This is great for sustainability because it conserves the natural resources and energy needed to create new plastic, prevents excess landfill waste, and prevents microplastics from further contaminating water and land. You can donate, reuse or recycle your old pill bottles by looking for a local donation center or repurposing them for crafts or containers. Just be sure to wash them thoroughly to remove any drug residue and remove all identification tags. It is also important to ensure that unused medications are disposed of properly. Find a center for the disposal of medications to prevent them from being redistributed on the ground or finding their way into the wrong hands.

You can also educate yourself about the medications you need to manage your symptoms or illness. Then, you can focus on a holistic approach to wellness that minimizes your dependence on pharmaceuticals. When you are actively contributing to a healthy planet, your mental well-being can also be greatly improved. You have peace of mind that you are not only helping yourself, but serving a greater purpose and positively impacting the environment and people around you.

Alternative approaches to health

When you are aware of the negative effects pharmaceuticals can have on your health and the planet, you can begin to explore alternative approaches to managing your well-being. This emphasizes a holistic perspective that considers your physical, mental and emotional well-being. You can incorporate some of the following into your daily routine with or without taking medications prescribed by your doctor:

• Engaging in regular exercise to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and boost your mental health;
• Eating a balanced diet to nourish your body with whole foods, strengthening you mentally and physically and avoiding further illness;
• Getting quality and restful sleep to improve cognitive functioning and rejuvenate your body to become stronger and prevent disease;
• Practicing mindfulness to create a mind-body connection and feel better overall with less stress, anxiety and negative emotions;
• Participation in therapywhether it’s group or individual, and trying a variety of therapy techniques to see what improves your quality of life;
• Considering complementary approaches such as acupuncture, massage therapy and herbal remedies alongside conventional medicine.

When you nourish your mind, body, and spirit, you’ll find yourself less dependent on prescription drugs to complete your daily tasks. It may be a more difficult path to embark on, at first, but it’s less expensive—for your wallet, your health, and the environment—in the long run. Think of your daily habits, other than taking pills, as a backup plan to make sure you can function without pharmaceuticals.

Pharmaceuticals seem to permeate every aspect of life, but it’s important to start thinking critically about what you’re putting into your body – and putting into the environment. Work with a doctor who is open to holistic approaches to find the right combination of medications and healthy lifestyle changes that work for you. When you focus on holistic wellness, you can feel good about your contribution to your health and the planet, and you’ll reap the benefits of better energy levels, happier days, and a healthier body and mind.