Recently, I was making my way off of a long flight. A toddler, no more than three stood on her seat, and stated loudly, “ My head hurts, and I need a pill.” I shook my head and wondered what had she been exposed to. A pill?? Where and how does a 3-year learn to ask for drugs?  Well, a recent report by Medco Health Solutions Inc. may offer an answer. More than half of all Americans are taking medications regularly for chronic health problems. The data was compiled by examining records of over 2.5 million Medco customers. The results indicated that 51% of Americans children and adults were taking one or more drugs a day. This was up from 47% in 2001. What was even more shocking was the fact that the biggest increase was in the use of chronic medications in the 20 to 44-age range, which rose 20% over the past six years. Think about it. How many mothers and fathers in that age range are raising young children who are watching them medicate their chronic diseases?

Diseases like depression, asthma, adult-attention deficit disorder; obesity, overweight and seizures make up the bulk of those chronic diseases.  I don’t buy that argument that big pharma with direct to consumer marketing is the sole reason for the increase in prescription usage. We have to focus on the role of preventable behaviors like exposure to tobacco, not exercising, and poor dietary choices as major factors in the rise of chronic diseases. We should understand that the new role of parents is not just about getting our toddlers into the “right preschool,” but rather it is also about modeling healthy eating behaviors, healthy self and health attitudes and the importance of regular exercise. We can also teach our impressionable young children that every pain or discomfort does not need a pill or a drink.