Why we need a tax on sleeping pills.
In the United States every year the total costs of giving sleeping pills can be estimated at $500 million to $1 billion. Many if not most of the prescriptions are inappropriate. Sleeping pill use, associated with a 50% increase in overall mortality, is especially dangerous for older people, who have a high risk of sleep apnea. There is virtually no evidence that sleeping pills are effective with prolonged usage and no evidence for life-preserving benefits. Excessive use of sleeping pills should be discouraged with a tax of 4 per pill. Revenues from the tax should fund new research to determine which sleeping pills are safest and when alternative treatments are safer.
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012306:Risk; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013660:Taxes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives