When did we become so weak? When was the smart citizen swallowed by personal gratification? People today lack the strength to exercise their free will. In fact, many actively choose not to take responsibility for some of their own decisions.  

Last month, a study by the Joint Health Surveys Unit of NatCen Social Research and the Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at the University of London found that 43 percent of men in England and 50 percent of women in England had taken a prescription medication in the past week. They also found that 22 percent of men and 24 percent of women had taken at least three prescription medications in the past week. 

Most important were the types of medications prescribed. According to the study, the most frequently prescribed medications were cholesterol-lowering drugs, drugs that lower blood pressure and painkillers. We shouldn’t assume for a second that we are fine simply because this was in England, a place we perceive to be far, far away. If this is the case in England, I can almost guarantee it’s just as bad, if not worse, in the United States. 

Correlation almost never shows causation, but I think a number of different things can help explain this trend. 

The population is obviously aging. Baby boomers, a large percentage of our population, are aging, thereby increasing the number of senior citizens. We all know health isn’t exactly a strong characteristic of our elderly population, which could help explain the increased use of prescription medication. 

Another possible cause of almost half of the English population relying on prescription medication is the lack of personal responsibility. According to the study, the top two most prescribed medications are for preventable conditions. High cholesterol and high blood pressure may be rooted in some genetic predispositions, but if half the population is predisposed to high cholesterol and blood pressure, then we’ve got problems. Unfortunately, people are choosing to make poor decisions with their diet and exercise and subsequently choose to compensate with some pills at dinner. 

Regrettably, this type of trend happens more and more lately. Under these circumstances, people are placing the responsibility of their own health on the drug companies instead of themselves. Regular exercise and a good diet are known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, but instead of choosing to take responsibility for their own health by exercising or eating healthy, people look to pharmaceutical companies to throw them a literal lifeline. 

Another example is how we turn to legislation for issues regarding personal health. For example, take when former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to enact a ban on soda containers that were too large. Instead of people making the decision not to have the big jug at the convenience store, they wanted the government to take away the choice. 

Apparently we’re getting weak as a population. We can’t make the right decisions so we want big brother to come in and make our choices for us. 

In past columns, I’ve fought for agencies or the government to assist us in our struggle of personal health, but at its core, the issue comes down to this. Our health is in our hands. We can’t keep looking for someone else to make the decision for you. The government has enough issues without worrying about the fast-food industry, so let them deal with the things they’re supposed to deal with. We have the choice. There is never only one option.