In Thanksgiving seasons past, I have written posts connecting the problems of high drug prices and hunger in America. Where people and households are struggling to afford food, there’s a greater likelihood that they are forgoing needed medical treatments, including prescription drugs. The problem is far worse for people with chronic medical conditions. This may seem intuitive and obvious, but for those wanting some academic research to chew on, take a look at this from The American Journal of Medicine:
“Treat or Eat: Food Insecurity, Cost-related Medication Underuse, and Unmet Needs.”
The research concludes: “Approximately 1 in 3 chronically ill NHIS participants are unable to afford food, medications, or both.” NHIS refers to the National Health Interview Survey.
Everything is worse this year. If you can help others who need it then you should.
Last year, a survey by Kaiser Family Foundation showed that about 25% of Americans say it’s difficult to afford their prescription drugs. That was before the pandemic. This Thanksgiving, in a disastrous second wave, America is witnessing the longest lines for food banks since the Great Depression. Reporting by National Geographic shows that 1 in 6 Americans could go hungry.
Instead of pontificating with digs at Big Pharma or pointing to more depressing data, I’m going to ask that you Donate to Hunger Free America.
Hunger Free America “is a nonpartisan, national nonprofit organization building the movement to enact the policies and programs needed to end domestic hunger and ensure that all Americans have sufficient access to nutritious food.”
To you and yours, a Happy Thanksgiving
