Why are there so many drugstores????

Question

Every supermarket, department store and street corner has a drugstore. They are going up everywhere! Why? Are all the kids on Ritalin and adults on anti-depressants? High profit margins in the sale of drugs? The aging population? A healthier population? I apologized to the pharmacist for getting 7 refills, which I thought was excessive. He laughed and said that I was typical. He said that he had a customer getting 30 prescriptions!

Why are there so many drugstores? Is this a good thing?

Answer 1

First you have an aging population. The baby boomers are getting older, etc. Not to mention the increase in population in general. It seems like the US just recently passed the 250 million people mark and now they say we are almost at 300 mil. Second the advances in medicine have made prescription drugs more prevalent and effective, leading to increased prescribing by physicians.
Then consider the effects of advertising of Rx meds. Consumers are inundated with ads telling them about all this medication that can make their lives better. People these days are more inclined to take a personal role in their health care in general, and are asking their docs to give them what they see on TV.
The real problem is the fact that, with all these new stores, etc. being built, there is a severe shortage of pharmacists in the country. Even though the erollment at Pharmacy schools is going up, they have to go thru 6 years of school before they can practice, but companies are putting up pharmacies so fast they can't possibly find enough pharmacists to fill them. This leads to a small # of pharmacists filling an ever increasing number of scripts. Many pharmacists are overworked and burnt out, leading to an increased chance of errors, etc.

I noticed all of the high profit margin answers; not with the prescription drugs. There are exorbitantly high profit margins for the drug manufacturers, but not that high for the pharmacies, due to the insurance companies. They keep their profit margins high by reimbursing the pharmacies very poorly. Pharmacies have no choice but to accept their contracts, for fear of losing their customers. The money made by the drug store chains is made mostly on the front end merchandise. Some stores, especially small, independent pharmacies, actually lose, or come pretty close to losing money in the pharmacy, with the overhead they have to maintain.

Answer 2

Yes, we are a drug dependent culture though I suspect the Swiss who are pharmaceutical giants are more dependent. I think we have made progress in the US in being more aware that drugs aren't always necessary and good.

Some doctors apparently get trips from drug companies for writing many prescriptions.

Certainly the population is aging as well - you can easily find the stats on that. Many of these older people aren't as aware of non-pharmaceutical ways to care for themselves such as diet and exercise.

Many pharmacies also function as 24/7 convenience stores which sell food, drink, clothing and many emergency and non-emergency items. Some things are good deals, as well. If you ever move to places where these conveniences don't exist (e.g. Europe) you will miss them.

And, don't forget that the US is still a capitalist country. So, there are still competitive chains.

There may be other hidden reasons as well so keep asking and keep looking. Here I'm thinking of small hospitals which sometimes act as doctors tax shelters and from whom you get no service!

One more thing is that pharmacy schools produce pharmacists each year. Pharmacists need jobs so may set up a pharmacy to work in.

Answer 3

Because Americans love there DRUGS! It is so much easier to put lil Johnnie on Ritalin than deal with him. There is a pill for everything now days just turn on the TV and it will tell you what you need, call your doctor try our free sample.
Drug company's are drug dealers only difference is they have a license to do it. Better living thru chemistry! Its OK I have a prescription.
Look at Rush Limbaugh drug addict Elvis drug addict. But that's OK they had a prescription.

Answer 4

That's the way life is now: You don't feel that good and see a Doctor. After explaining your discomfort, the Doctor will enter your comments into the Computer. The Computer will think for a split-second, and then will give the Doctor all possible solutions to your problem. To be on the safe side, since he or she does not like to face a lawsuit for neglect, the Doctor will prescribe a medication for all possible solutions. After that, you go to the drugstore.

Answer 5

Most of the population is not yet into natural healing. The body is designed to heal itself but MDs push medicine instead. Chiropractors are all about natural healing, but everyone wants a quick fix be it prescription drugs or alcohol, street drugs, etc....

Most ailments that people suffer from can be handled by eating properly, exercising and proper alignment of the spine.

Answer 6

Drugs cost pennies to make. the fact that everyone has iinsurance makes the price go up for no reason other than profit.

So yes, it is a very pprofitable business. Oh as also insurance pays a set rate, so there is NO COMPETION to reduce rates like everything else

Answer 7

It's better than having to go miles for drugs and be sick. I went to South Dakota few years ago and they actually had a customer pick up my prescription and bring it to a closer store. Talk about unsafe and scary in this day and age. Maybe cause I'm from the city.

Answer 8

Well, you kinda answered your own question.
The aging baby boomers, high profit margins, and the fact that there are so many different drugs now to treat so many conditions.
I work for a pharmacy that suppies medications to nursing homes, and we fill about 6000 prescriptions a day.
Yes, 6000.....every day.

Answer 9

In the Western Hemisphere, big business, best profit margins, people being afraid to die, willing to live substandard lives courtesy of modern chemistry, vast amounts of advertising, huge donations to politicians, and etc.
I could go on, but, no need to write a book.

Answer 10

I am a pharmacy technician...
We had a customer getting 50 prescriptions in one time....(that's because she has 25 for herself, 15 for the husband, 10 for her 2 kids).....