Use of medications for U.S. youth rising

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The use of medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, asthma, depression and diabetes by U.S. children and teens rose from 2002 to 2005.

Researchers at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Express Scripts say prescriptions for type-2 diabetes medications between 2002 and 2005 for girls ages 10 and 14 has risen by 166 percent. Obesity was cited as the cause.

The number of males between ages 15 and 19 using a blood pressure drug increased by 15.4 percent; however, the number of females in the same age group taking anti-hypertensives declined by 1.6 percent.

Children ages 5 to 9 accounted for the largest increase in the use of controller medication for asthma -- 67.3 percent -- compared to 38.8 percent for the 10 to 14 age group and 34.7 percent for the 15 to 19 age group.

The number of females ages 15 to 19 taking an antidepressant increased by 6.8 percent for the same period, but for males in the same age group, utilization declined slightly.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Washington.