Skip to main content
News

Prescription drug statistics 2026

Get updated prescription drug stats, drug abuse facts, and drug price trends
SingleCare logo
By | Updated on Feb. 17, 2026 Medically reviewed by Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH & Karen Berger, Pharm.D.

Key takeaways

  • Prescription drug use has been steadily increasing in the U.S. and around the world, and projections show that this increase will likely continue. 

  • National and per capita spending on prescription drugs has risen significantly over the past several years, and experts estimate that it will continue increasing for the next few years as well. 

  • The misuse of prescription drugs is still a significant issue in the U.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse or addiction, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) any time.

In this article:

Data show that prescription drug expenditures have been increasing in the U.S. nearly every year since the turn of the millennium. And prescription drug use is projected to continue increasing into the foreseeable future. The trends are clear: More drugs are available than ever before, more people are using them almost every year, and prescription drug misuse is still a significant problem. 

Prescription drug statistics worldwide

  • Prescription drug expenditures in the U.S. will reach approximately $557 billion in 2026 (Statista, 2024)
  • In the last five years, global prescription medication use increased by 434 billion daily doses, and is expected to increase by another 154 billion by 2029 (The IQVIA Institute, 2025).
  • Around 64 million people around the world have drug use disorders (United Nations, 2025).
  • Opioid abuse accounts for an estimated approximately 450,000 of the 600,000 deaths attributed to drug use globally. (World Health Organization, 2025)
  • Approximately 2 billion people worldwide lack access to essential medicines. (United Nations, 2025)

Which country takes the most prescription drugs?

  • Western Europe and Japan have more than double the prescription drug use (per capita) than most other regions. (The IQVIA Institute, 2025)
  • Prescription drug use in Latin America and Asia has grown faster than in other regions, a trend that is projected to continue through 2029. (The IQVIA Institute, 2025)
  • Annual per capita spending on pharmaceuticals by country is as follows (Statista, 2025):
    • United States: $1,491
    • Germany: $995
    • Switzerland: $962
    • Canada: $893
    • Japan: $847
    • Korea: $789
    • Greece: $787
    • France: $777
    • Slovenia: $728
    • Austria: $719

Prescription drug statistics in the U.S.

  • In total, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved over 23,000 different prescription drugs for marketing (FDA, 2024)
  • Around 68% of Americans report taking at least one prescription drug daily, including 26% who say they take 4 or more daily. (CivicScience, 2025) 
  • There were an estimated 4.98 billion retail prescriptions filled nationwide in 2025, up from 4.9 billion in 2024 and 4.83 billion in 2023. (Statista, 2025)
  • From 2023 to 2024, prescription drug spending in the U.S. increased 10.2% to $805.9 billion. It’s expected to increase by 9–11% in 2025. (American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2025)
  • In 2024, 13.8 million Americans reported misusing prescription psychotherapeutic drugs, including:
    • 7.6 million who misused prescription opioids
    • 4.6 million who misused prescription tranquilizers/sedatives
    • 3.9 million who misused prescription stimulants
       (SAMHSA, 2025)
  • Approximately 8 million people over 12 reported misusing prescription pain relievers in 2024, and around 3.9 million people reported misusing prescription CNS stimulants (SAMHSA, 2025)

Most common prescription drugs

  • According to 2025 data from Definitive Healthcare, here are the top 10 most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S., and the percentage of claims they made up:
    • Atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor): 2.74% (also one of the most prescribed drugs in the world)
    • Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc): 1.86%
    • Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid): 1.83%
    • Lisinopril (Zestril): 1.79%
    • Gabapentin (Neurontin): 1.61%
    • Losartan potassium (Cozaar): 1.39%
    • Omeprazole (Prilosec): 1.39%
    • Amoxicillin: 1.22%
    • Metformin: 1.21%
    • Sertraline (Zoloft): 1.20%

These were the most-filled prescriptions among SingleCare users in 2025:

  1. Tadalafil (Cialis)
  2. Phentermine (Lomaira)
  3. Sildenafil (Viagra, Revatio)
  4. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
  5. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
  6. Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
  7. Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall, Adderall XR)
  8. Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Euthyrox, Levoxyl, Unithroid)
  9. Escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro) 
  10. Fluoxetine (Prozac)

See the full list here

Prescription drug statistics by age

  • Around 64.8% of adults 18 years and older report taking prescription drugs during the year prior, including:
    • Approximately 38.9% of men and 57.8% of women 18–44 years old 
    • Approximately 67.1% of men and 75.7% of women 45–64 years old 
    • Approximately 89.0% of men and 89.3% of women 65 years and older
       (CDC, 2023)
  • While the average number of prescriptions per person by age varies depending on the source, U.S. adults 55 and older are the most likely to report taking at least one prescription and more than three prescriptions daily. People ages 18–24 are the least likely to take any. (CivicScience, 2025)

Prescription drug statistics by race and ethnicity

  • White populations have the highest prescription use and spending per capita, while Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic populations’ per-capita prescription use and spending are lower relative to their population sizes. (JAMA Health Forum, 2025)
  • Black populations have fewer-than-average prescriptions per prevalent case, while Asian and Pacific Islanders have higher-than-average prescriptions per prevalent case, and Hispanic populations are around the national average. (JAMA Health Forum, 2025)
  • In 2023, 5.7% of Native Americans reported misusing prescription painkillers in the past year, compared to 4.0% of multiracial people, 3.7% of black people, 3.5% of Pacific Islanders, 3.0% of white people, and 1.7% of Asian people (SAMHSA, 2023)
  • Native American adults were also more likely to report misusing CNS stimulants (6.4%), followed by 3.8% of white people, 3.7% of multiracial people, 3.2% of Hispanic people, and 1.4% of Asians (SAMHSA, 2023).
  • After events related to opioid use, White patients received medication for opioid use disorder 80% more often than Black patients and 25% more often than Hispanic patients (The New England Journal of Medicine, 2023).
  • In 2024, the prices of over 700 brand-name drugs increased by an average of 5.4%, and the prices of around 40 generic drugs increased by an average of 39%. (IPD Analytics, 2024)
  • Pharmaceutical spending increased 10.2% from 2023 to 2024, hitting $805.9 billion total (American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2025)
  • In the next five years, it’s estimated that total spending on medications will grow 5–8%. (The IQVIA Institute, 2025)
  • From 2025–2033, per capita out-of-pocket drug spending is expected to increase at an average rate of 3.4%. (KFF, 2025)
  • The 25 most common drugs for people with Medicare Part D have increased in price by 98% in the past 11 years. (AARP, 2025)
  • The price of 4,264 medicines increased between 2022 and 2023 (Department of Health and Human Services, 2023).
  • Pharmaceutical companies launched new drugs in 2023 at prices 35% higher than in 2022 (Reuters, 2024)
  • Around 21% of US adults report that they have not filled a prescription because of the cost. Approximately 23% say they have used an OTC alternative instead because of high prices. (KFF, 2025)

Prescription insurance statistics

  • A 2018 study found that 1 in 4 U.S. prescriptions were cheaper when patients paid cash instead of using insurance. (USC Schaeffer, 2018)
  • The adoption of paying cash prices for prescriptions is rising. 
    • In 2019, only 5% of prescriptions were purchased without insurance. (KFF, 2019)
    • However, according to a 2022 survey, 61% of respondents had reportedly paid cash for prescriptions even though they were covered by insurance. (Prescryptive, 2022)
  • A 2023 study found that 20%-40% of common generic prescriptions were cheaper with a discount card instead of insurance. (The University of Toledo, 2023)

SingleCare stats

SingleCare is a free discount card that can be applied to the cash price of a drug. These coupons are especially helpful for people who don’t have insurance, when insurance doesn’t cover a drug, or when insurance copays are higher than the drug’s cash price.

  • SingleCare saves an average of $132 per script and over $1,000 per year for families who regularly fill prescriptions.
  • We’ve helped 18 million people fill prescriptions in the past year.
  • Some of our best discounts include: Mounjaro, Zepbound, Trulicity, Januvia, Farxiga, Jardiance, Breztri Aerosphere, Xarelto, Eliquis, and Gemtesa. 
  • Some of the cheapest prescriptions with SingleCare (consistently less than $10) include: levothyroxine, prednisone, ferosul, low-dose aspirin, loratadine, furosemide, and metformin ER.

Facts about prescription drug abuse

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, around 13.8 million Americans over the age of 12 misuse prescription drugs, and around 7.6 million of them (55%) are addicted. Many experts regard it as an epidemic, especially for the most widely misused prescription medication: opioids.

In 2024, around 80,400 people died of drug overdoses, and around 54,700 of those deaths involved opioids, according to data from JAMA. While many of these cases concern synthetic opioids like fentanyl, many also involve prescription opioids. The opioid crisis was named a public health emergency in 2017, and between then and 2023, opioid-related deaths rose by 67%.

Yet the issue doesn’t just concern opioids like OxyContin and Vicodin. Other commonly misused drugs include benzodiazepines (like Valium or Xanax), barbiturates, and amphetamines for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), like Adderall and Ritalin. 

The current prevalence of drug misuse is a multifaceted issue. It stems from psychological factors like mental health disorders, stress, trauma, lack of coping skills, accessibility, and social norms; economic ones like poverty and lack of education; plus biological ones like genetic predispositions, brain chemistry, and neurobiological changes, according to Zishan Khan, MD, a triple board-certified psychiatrist at Mindpath. 

Preventing prescription drug misuse

There are multiple links in the chain of prescription drug use, including the doctors who prescribe drugs, the organizations that regulate them, and the patients who take them. So, preventing misuse requires a multi-tiered approach.

Healthcare providers

Some of the first lines of defense against drug misuse are the healthcare provider and pharmacist. They can help by only prescribing necessary drugs and clearly explaining how to take them, potential side effects, and other warnings and interactions. Healthcare providers should also monitor the patient closely and watch for signs of drug misuse, like frequent or unscheduled requests for refills, while pharmacists can keep an eye out for falsified prescriptions or other documents.

Organizations

“Promoting mental health and emotional resilience can help individuals avoid turning to substances as a way to cope. Skills training in emotional regulation, stress management, and problem-solving can strengthen protective factors against addiction,” Dr. Khan says. “Community programs that promote social connection, healthy behaviors, and provide resources for individuals at greater risk can also be helpful,” as can “ensuring that individuals have access to mental health services for addressing issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma.” 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides funding for community education and programs, among other things. Additionally, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a federal agency that’s the world’s largest supporter of drug abuse and addiction research. They distribute their research findings to the general public, policymakers, and researchers to help fight drug misuse. There are also non-profits like The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA), which promote community education and legislative action at the local, state, and federal levels.

Patients

Ultimately, the patient takes the medication and is responsible for taking it correctly. They can help prevent accidental or intentional misuse by sharing their complete medical history with their healthcare provider, especially if it includes previous issues with substance abuse. One of the best ways for patients to avoid the misuse of prescription drugs is to take prescribed medications exactly as directed for the minimum amount of time and to avoid the most addictive medications like sleeping pills, anti-anxiety type pills such as Xanax, and stimulants, says Christopher Johnston, MD, chief medical officer at Pinnacle Treatment Centers in New Jersey.

Treating prescription drug abuse

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, behavioral treatments and medications are the two main drug use disorder treatment categories. Opioid addiction, for example, may require drugs like methadone or buprenorphine to deal with cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help identify and change the thought patterns associated with drug addiction, while inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation can provide more intensive care.

“Many individuals with drug abuse issues also have co-occurring mental health disorders. Treatment programs that address both drug abuse and mental health conditions simultaneously are crucial for effective recovery,” Dr. Khan says. “This is the approach I most recommend as a psychiatrist. You have to take everything into account and can’t just focus on one aspect of what is leading to the addictive behaviors.”

If you or someone you know has found themselves in a drug abuse situation, know that help isn’t far away. Seeking it out might be difficult, but it could save your life or the life of a loved one. You can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free at any time if you need help with a mental or substance use disorder, or you can talk with your healthcare provider about treatment options.

Prescription drug questions and answers

What percentage of the population takes prescription drugs?

A KFF survey of U.S. adults found that around 61% reported taking at least one prescription medication.

How many prescription drugs are prescribed each year?

Data from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science indicates that over 6 billion prescriptions are written in the U.S. every year.

How many prescriptions does the average American take?

According to the CDC, more than 60% of Americans take at least one prescription medication per year, although the exact number varies by age group. For example, adults older than 65 generally take more medications than younger people.

What country consumes the most prescription drugs?

The U.S. spends more per capita on prescription drugs than any other country, according to Peterson-KFF data.

More prescription statistics

You can find more statistics around specific drugs and drug classes on SingleCare:

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Browse drugs A-Z:

View all
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z