More than 100,000 people a year die because they were overmedicated by doctors and other health care providers. Drugs prescribed by those in medical practices can be helpful but can also be dangerous even lethal if used incorrectly. This not only applies to abusing drugs by not using them as prescribed, but also includes taking an incorrect dosage given by a doctor. Modern America obviously appreciates the benefits of prescription drugs, but many people may be taking medication for reasons that don't require medicating. Taking medicine for problems when pharmaceutical treatment is not needed can cause severe problems. All medications have some degree of side effects, but the medicine may not be safe for people especially at higher doses or given in combination with other medications. (National ¦) Many of the drugs do not have immediate side effects but can have long term effects caused by overmedicating. Overmedicating can be caused by intentionally or unintentionally taking beyond the prescribed amount, or by a doctor giving out a prescription on top of other medication. Many people are even given prescriptions without consideration to other medicine they may be taking. This is the most common form of overmedicating, but all have severe effects. The number of Americans taking medication is constantly growing at an alarming rate. Are Americans overmedicated? A prescription drug is a licensed medicine with a prescription written by a doctor, or someone certified in the medical field. Prescription drugs are often referred to as Rx for short. Often times doctors prescribe medication without knowledge of other medications the patient may be taking at the time. Some people feel that the long term effects and side effects of the Rx are worse than the problem that is causing the need for medication. Many medications have also been known to cause major heart problems such as heart disease. It is not uncommon for an Rx to be the leading cause of death. A CBS News investigation found that some veterans are dying of accidental overdoses of narcotic painkillers at a higher rate than the non military population (Axelrod). A dozen VA physicians say they've felt pressured by administrators to prescribe narcotics and that patients are not being properly monitored (Axelrod). It is easier for doctors to just write a prescription than it is t