This statistic depicts the total number of retail prescriptions filled annually in the United States from 2013 to 2025. It is estimated that in 2019, 4.38 billion retail prescriptions will be filled throughout the United States.U.S. Pharmacies and Drug Stores IndustryThe retail drug industry is comprised of pharmacies or drugstores, as they are known in North America. According to Statista estimates, which were calculated based on numbers presented by IBIS World, pharmacies and drugstores in the United States will generate a revenue of 257 billion U.S. dollars in 2014. With an aging population and greater prevalence of chronic diseases, the need for safe, legal pharmaceutical drugs is constantly rising.Pharmacies and drug stores dispense prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs directly to patients. However, their role is more than one of simple distribution as they dispense medication in specific doses, adhere to optimal conditions of storage and give valuable advice to patients. Pharmacies practice in a wide range of locations such as communities, hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Other drug retail outlets include supermarkets, and independent and online pharmacies, which offer mail-order drugs to patients, proving especially convenient for those that may be unable to leave their homes. In 2016, CVS Health was the leading drug store chain in the United States, based on retail prescription sales, generating approximately 60.8 billion U.S. dollars. Apart from selling drugs, miscellaneous products also account for a percentage of sales for these retail outlets, such as cosmetics and confectioneries.The retail drug store industry employs many different types of workers. Each store has a manager, along with department managers or assistant managers to handle additional administrative duties. Sales associates are generally entry-level retail workers. Pharmacists require a specialized degree and licensing to dispense medication.

The number of prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. has increased between 2009 and 2022. In 2009 the number of prescriptions dispensed was near **** billion, while in 2022 the number of prescriptions dispensed was around *** billion. The increase in the number of prescriptions dispensed has a multifactorial origin that includes health care sources, health insurance, and prescription drug benefits. However, the increase in prescription drug usage comes with a price tag as the price of drugs in the U.S. is also on the rise. Medication usage The total number of retail prescriptions filed annually in the United States is expected to also rise significantly by the year 2025. Medication usage varies depending on the population, for example, some data shows that prescription usage increases with age. Likewise, gender has an influence on prescription drug use. Females have a higher rate of prescription drug usage. Prescription drug costs The U.S. has some of the highest per capita drug spending in the world. That is largely because the prices of drugs in the U.S. are based solely on what the market can bear, rather than what the actual costs of production are. Personal health care expenditures in the U.S. have more than doubled since 2000. Estimates suggest that the cost of drugs will continue to increase. Estimated U.S. prescribed drug expenditures amounted to *** billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2021.

In 2024, U.S.-based pharmacy retail company Walgreens filled about 796 million prescriptions in the United States. These figures included vaccinations. In 2017, the number of prescriptions was 764 million.

View quarterly trends in Risky Prescribing Measures, including: o Number/Rate of Individuals Seeing 5+ Prescribers and 5+ Dispensers: Number of individuals who received prescriptions from 5 or more prescribers AND 5 or more dispensers for any Schedule II-V substance in a 3-month period. This measure is also referred to as Multiple Provider Episodes. County rates are calculated based on the patient’s county of residence. o Number/Rate of Individuals Seeing 4+ Prescribers and 4+ Dispensers: Number of individuals who received prescriptions from 5 or more prescribers AND 5 or more dispensers for any Schedule II-V substance in a 3-month period. This measure is also referred to as Multiple Provider Episodes. County rates are calculated based on the patient’s county of residence. o Number/Rate of Individuals Seeing 3+ Prescribers and 3+ Dispensers: Number of individuals who received prescriptions from 5 or more prescribers AND 5 or more dispensers for any Schedule II-V substance in a 3-month period. This measure is also referred to as Multiple Provider Episodes. County rates are calculated based on the patient’s county of residence. o Number/Rate of Individuals with an Average Daily MME >50, >90 or >120: Average Daily MME is calculated as the sum of the total MME on each day in a time period based on all prescriptions an individual has filled divided by the number of days in the prescription(s). Measures include the number and rate of individuals prescribed greater than 50 MME per day, greater than 90 MME per day, or greater than 120 MME per day and is based on the patient’s county of residence. o Number/Rate of Individuals with Overlapping Opioid/Benzodiazepine Prescriptions: Number of individuals receiving overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions during a given quarter. This measure is based on the patients’ county of residence. o Number/Rate of Individuals with > 30 Days of Overlapping Opioid/Benzodiazepine Prescriptions: Number and rate of individuals receiving overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions for 30 days or more during a given quarter using state/county populations as denominators. This measure is based on the patients’ county of residence. Please see PDMP Data Technical Notes for additional details: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/programs/PDMP/Pages/Data.aspx

This bulletin presents a summary of prescriptions dispensed in the community by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and dispensing doctors in England. The bulletin highlights recent changes and the main trends between 2002 and 2012.

Dispensing Workflow refers to availability, use of and satisfaction with digital health tools/functions and the medication dispensing workflow.

This statistic shows the percentage of the U.S. population with usage of prescription drugs within the past month between 1988 and 2018. In the period 2015-2018, 21.5 percent of the population under 18 years used prescription drugs.

In 2022, the number of alprazolam prescriptions had decreased to some 15 million. Alprazolam is a potent, short-acting benzodiazepine anxiolytic — a minor tranquilizer, used for the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially of panic disorder, but also in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder. This statistic shows the total annual number of alprazolam prescriptions in the U.S. from 2004 to 2022, in millions.