The pharmaceutical industry has delivered real breakthroughs, but soaring drug prices, relentless advertising campaigns, and heavy political influence are leaving patients broke and angry.
My husband suffers from bipolar disorder. I know firsthand that the medications he takes do not merely improve his quality of life—they make our family life possible.
While I am grateful for the drugs that help keep my family together, I cannot trust Big Pharma to serve patients fairly. The industry’s incentives often clash with what it treats.
In recent years, more than two-thirds of Americans have reported taking prescription medications daily, and 26% take four or more. The average price of prescription drugs in the U.S. has risen by about 37% over the past decade, with many popular brand-name medicines doubling in value within 15 years.
A study shows U.S. drug prices are nearly three times higher than in comparable countries. Family health insurance premiums for employer-sponsored plans jumped 26% from 2020 to 2025, outpacing wage growth and inflation.
One in four Americans recently reported difficulty affording their medications, with about 19% skipping or rationing doses due to cost. Medical expenses have become the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in this country.
I understand that high prices help fund clinical trials for new drugs. However, Americans have witnessed pharmaceutical companies acquiring off-patent drugs and raising prices overnight—including insulin, which is relatively inexpensive to produce.
Drug prices would not be so high if Big Pharma did not spend between $13 billion and $14 billion annually on direct-to-consumer advertising. They would not be so high without the industry’s consistent federal lobbying efforts.
Last year, Americans spent 12.7% more on pharmaceuticals than in 2024, largely driven by popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Roughly 12% of American adults are currently taking these medications, with usage expected to rise significantly.
I am not saying people should avoid medication. But I am deeply concerned that we increasingly treat prescriptions as the first line of defense for nearly every challenge without exploring alternatives.
As someone who has battled addiction, I worry about others developing dependencies on drugs. The opioid crisis—fueled by companies like Purdue Pharma aggressively promoting OxyContin while downplaying its risks—destroyed entire communities and continues today with synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
As a parent, I do everything in my power to ensure my children understand that medications should be used carefully and for their intended purpose.
While I acknowledge the value of medicine and deeply respect the healthcare industry, respect does not require blindness. The pharmaceutical industry must remember families paying bills, rationing doses, and questioning whether they will ever afford their medications again.
Innovation deserves reward. Exploitation does not.
