Usually when we're experiencing a medical issue, the doctor will give us a prescription to help us out. A new study suggests that may not be necessary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found roughly a third of the time Americans leave their doctor's office, they're given a prescription they don't need. Researchers found about 47 million unnecessary prescriptions are given out each year to kids and adults.
The problem is most of the prescriptions are for conditions that don't respond to antibiotics like colds, sore throats, bronchitis, the flu and other viruses.
In total, about 154 million outpatient visits result in an antibiotic being prescribed.
