The United States leads the world in the number of people taking addictive prescription drugs. The financial cost to the nation from prescription drug abuse and dependence is in the billions.
The infographic above gives you a brief look at the seriousness of this epidemic. Indeed, according to federal government reports, an estimated 20 percent of U.S. citizens have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.
There is a growing movement to educate physicians as to the dangers of narcotics, stimulants, and central nervous system medications.
It would be very helpful if those same physicians were also educated about the efficacy of medicinal cannabis in alleviating many of the same conditions for which more dangerous medications are prescribed.
According to Food and Drug Administration statistics, a review of the data showed that a total of 10,008 deaths occurred due to company-tested, prescription drugs over a period of 10 years. During that same time, of course, zero deaths were attributable to marijuana, because there has never been a single documented fatality directly due to cannabis use.
There are three age groups that have been profoundly impacted by the availability and increased use of prescription drugs: teens, mid-30s to mid-40s, and seniors. Admissions into drug rehab facilities for prescription drug abuse have increased dramatically as a result.
The graphic demonstrates the need for all of us to consider a far less dangerous, non-toxic alternative to harsh pharmaceuticals: medical marijuana.