Prescription drug spending doubled in less than a decade

Over the last 10 years, the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased from 44% to 48%, says a federal government study.

Use of two or more drugs increased from 25% to 31%, and the use of five or more drugs increased from 6% to 11%, according to the analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The study also found that 20% of children and 90% of adults aged 60 and older reported using at least one prescription drug in the past month, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers.