Prescription and other FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs have had a growing impact on American lives – both good and bad. The most recent statistics show that close to one-half of the entire U.S. population has used a prescription drug in the last month, that two-thirds of all doctor’s visits result in patients being given a prescription for drug therapy, that 1.6 billion individual drugs are ordered or provided each year, and that a stunning 85% of all adults 65 years and older are on at least one medication with the majority of them taking an average of three different prescription drugs at any given time. 

While life expectancy in the United States has continued to climb as additional treatments become available, prescription drugs also account for an increasing number of injuries or deaths. In one U.S. state, deaths related to prescription drug abuse has actually overtaken deaths due to car accidents. The U.S. Government’s Center for Disease Control has reported that drug use, including prescription drugs, may actually account for as many fatal auto accidents as drunk driving. And in U.S. courts, thousands of injuries or deaths linked to defective FDA drugs are being settled or awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in damages each year. 

With the unique benefits and sometimes high risks connected with FDA-approved prescription drugs, as well as over-the-counter medication and even herbal and nutritional supplements, it’s more important than ever for you to take the steps needed to make sure your family stays safe and accident-free. If and when you or someone you know suffers an injury as a result of a defective drug product, it’s essential that you seek out the best practical information to help you understand the legal, medical, and everyday life issues that will help you to best resume your life.