By David Butler
By DAVID BUTLER
The government announced in their annual health report more than 40 percent of Americans are using at least one prescription drug.
According to the report 'Health, United States 2004,' 44 percent of Americans use at least one prescription drug and 16.5 percent are using at least three.
Those rates were up from 39 percent and 12 percent between 1988 and 1994, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported to The Associated Press.
'Health, United States' is an annual report released by the Center for Disease Control and is designed to report trends in health statistics.
The report also found that life expectancy increased to 77.3 in 2002, and deaths from heart disease, cancer and strokes are down-only one to three percent.
According to The Associated Press, the study also found that spending on health increased 9.3 percent in 2002 to $1.6 trillion.
Prescription drugs make up one-tenth of that spending and were the fastest growing expense.
The report said usage is increasing among people of all ages.
Usage peaked at 84 percent for people aged 65 and over, with the top rate at 89 percent for black women over 65.
More information on prescription drug use and other trends in the nation''s health statistics can be found at the CDC''s Web site at www.cdc.gov.