More than 1 in 5 American adults now takes at least one type of medication to treat a psychological or behavioral disorder, a 22% rise since 2001, according to a new report by Medco Health Solutions, which monitors drug trends in insurance claims. Does that mean Americans are overmedicating their minds?
Report: 1 in 5 American Adults Takes Mental Health Drugs
Contrary to stereotypes about city folk on the coasts being more open about seeking mental health care, the highest rate of psychiatric medication use was in the so-called "diabetes belt" in the Southeastern U.S. This area, which as the name suggests has higher rates of diabetes, include many of the country's poorest states: Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama — 23.3% of residents of these states take at least one psychiatric drug. Data suggest that people with diabetes have higher levels of depression, which could account for the rate of mental health drug use in the region. But New Englanders shouldn't feel too smug: they come in second at 22.2%. The lowest rates of use were found in the Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana: 14.6%