A look inside Tennessee’s medicine cabinet reveals that the Volunteer State is again No. 1 in its use of prescription drugs. That’s the finding of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s latest health care industry report, “Inside Tennessee’s Medicine Cabinet,” which provides an overview of prescription use trends in the state as well as the consequences of that use.

In Tennessee, prescription drug use stands at 17.3 prescriptions per person compared to the U.S. average of 11.3 prescriptions per capita. And when it comes to costs, Tennessee earns the nation’s No. 2 spot with $1,192 per capita on prescription drug spending.

“It all adds up, but does it add up to better health?” observed Bill Cecil, health policy director for BlueCross. “For all our drug use and spending, Tennessee still ranks 47th in health status for its citizens.”

According to Cecil, appropriate prescription drug use has an enormous potential to add value and quality to life, yet criteria for appropriate use are needed to mitigate the myriad of health risks as well as maximize the benefits.

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