Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


1

New Yorkers Fight Crisis With Pills

Prescriptions shoot up in Sept., Oct.

Share

(Newser) – At least there's one market that's booming in New York—the market for pills for your sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression, Crain’s New York Business reports. The meltdown in the financial industry has caused a surge in prescriptions: In September, as Lehman Brothers was collapsing, and AIG and Merrill Lynch were being rescued, sleep-aid prescriptions jumped 11% and anti-anxiety and anti-depressant drug prescriptions climbed 9% compared to a year before.

This at a time when US spending on prescription drugs overall has dropped. “It’s unusual for somebody to come in at this point and for the economic environment not to be on the list of things affecting them,” says a Big Apple sleep doctor.

New Yorkers' anxiety, depression, and sleep drug prescriptions have shot up lately.
New Yorkers' anxiety, depression, and sleep drug prescriptions have shot up lately.   (Shutterstock)
The financial crisis may be fueling the increase in New Yorkers' prescriptions.
The financial crisis may be fueling the increase in New Yorkers' prescriptions.   (Shutterstock)
Lehman Brothers headquarters in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. As Lehman collapsed in September, prescriptions for sleeping pills rose 11% in New York.
Lehman Brothers headquarters in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008. As Lehman collapsed in September, prescriptions for sleeping pills rose 11% in New York.   (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

If we looked to diagnose the city, I would say it has an anxiety disorder. - Mel Schwartz, psychotherapist

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
1 comment
VIEWING:
 
Zebraone
Dec 15, 08 10:36 PM CST
Oh!~~~ I thought it was 'bills'! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

6 Stories

OPINION

Noonan: Maybe Wall Street Was High on Xanax

Maybe money men were hopped up on anti-depressants

Mar 13, 09 7:39 AM CDT
(Newser) - Peggy Noonan has a novel explanation for the crash (“or the great recession, or the collapse—it’s time it got its name”): What if the bankers were all hopped up on happy pills? Antidepressant use became widespread in New York after 9/11, she notes in the Wall ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
depression • antidepressant • Peggy Noonan • economy • financial crisis • recession depression • Bill Maher Grid

Rainbow Room Grill to Close 

In throes of recession, rent dispute, the Big Apple landmark will shutter its dining hall

Jan 4, 09 4:54 PM CST
(Newser) - New York’s vaunted Rainbow Room will shut down its dining hall next week amid the recession and a rent conflict, the New York Daily News reports. With the Rainbow Grill’s closure, the tourist hotspot at 30 Rockefeller Plaza will—temporarily or otherwise—be 40 employees lighter and limited... More »

MORE ABOUT:
New York City • New York • restaurant • rent • recession • Rockefeller Center • Rainbow Room • financial crisis • restaurant industry • recession depression

All New York
Will Feel Wall Street's Pain

Mayor rolls out plans to hike taxes, cut services and ax 20,000 city jobs

Dec 30, 08 6:00 PM CST
(Newser) - All American cities are facing budget shortfalls because of the recession, but Wall Street's meltdown has decimated New York City's tax base, Michael Bloomberg said yesterday in announcing plans to slash 20,000 city jobs, cut services and raise taxes.  The aim is to reduce an expected $4 billion... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Wall Street • New York City • layoffs • New York • Michael Bloomberg • budget • municipal services • financial crisis

6 Stories


Gender roles in stress
MarketWatch

Handling business worries
Inc.


Business  •  US 
TwitterFollow @NewserBusiness on Twitter

 
New York City • depression • antidepressant • New York • prescription drugs • anxiety • medication • sleeping pills • financial crisis

from our news partners