Americans spend more than 460 billion dollars on prescription drugs annually, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Not all of this medication is helping us. Unnecessary and improper use of medication is responsible for an extremely high number of hospital visits and deaths each year. In addition, the cost of many medications can be prohibitive. Are we taking too many drugs? Why are prescription drugs in the United States so expensive? Does the pharmaceutical industry work for our best interest? The perspectives in this volume delve into the many facets of the controversies pertaining to prescription drugs.