Sales of prescription drugs rose 8.3 percent in 2006 to a total of nearly $275 billion. Experts predict the rising trend to continue at a steady compounded annual rate of between 6 percent and 9 percent through 2010.

It’s disappointing that drug sales are still so strong, but there is a silver lining. The increases are getting smaller, especially if you consider that prescription drug sales increased nearly 20 percent back in 2000.

Still, worldwide annual spending for prescription drugs topped $600 billion for the first time ever in 2005, and the United States accounted for close to half of those sales (more than $250 billion in 2005).

Overall, health care spending in the United States is expected to reach $3 trillion by 2011 -- and one of the primary drivers of these exorbitant costs is prescription drugs.

I remain confident, however, that the notion of replacing these potentially toxic and often unnecessary band-aids with safer and healthier treatments (not to mention less expensive ones) is starting to take hold. You and I have the power to break this vicious cycle simply by believing in the alternatives and sharing the message with others.

Yahoo News March 9, 2007