Are Americans Overmedicated?

Prescription drugs and medications help to treat millions of medical conditions and health concerns in America each year, often extending lives and easing chronic pain. However, many health advocates are concerned about the eagerness with which prescription drugs are dispensed. As with most sciences, health studies continue to evolve as we learn more about the body; this reality often supports concern about the long-term results of overmedication. This book explores questions about medicine in America. Readers are encouraged to engage in critical thinking and text analysis as they are presented with articles on topics such as "doctor shopping," the war on pain relief, and the overuse of antibiotics in relation to drug-resistant bacteria.