Data • Stewardship • Informed choice
U.S. Medication Usage by State
Documented medication use rates and overmedication trends by state, correlated with USDA growing zones to show accessible plant-based alternatives.
Purpose: This is not anti-medicine. It's pro-stewardship—showing where prescription rates are highest and what affordable plant-food alternatives can support physician-guided reduction when appropriate.
Key Findings
National Context
- 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug (CDC 2023)
- 46% take at least two; 24% take five or more
- Most common: antidepressants, opioids, antacids, statins, antidiabetics
- Cost burden: Americans spend $400+ billion annually on prescription drugs
Overmedication Risks
- Polypharmacy: 5+ medications increase adverse event risk exponentially
- Drug-drug interactions: Estimated 100,000+ preventable deaths yearly
- Deprescribing: Growing physician movement to safely reduce unnecessary medications
- Preventable disease: 80% of chronic disease is lifestyle-related (food, movement, stress)
State-by-State Overview
The following data shows states with highest prescription rates (by medication class), paired with their USDA growing zones and recommended plants for food-first support.
| State | Zone(s) | Rx Rate | Top Medications | Food-First Plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 8–11 | High (aging pop.) | Antacids, statins, pain meds | Turmeric, ginger, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, okra |
| West Virginia | 6–7 | Highest national | Opioids, antidepressants | Garlic, onions, cold-hardy greens, root veggies |
| Kentucky | 6–7 | Very high | Opioids, antacids, antidepressants | Turmeric (containers), ginger (containers), chamomile, lavender |
| Ohio | 5–6 | High | Antidepressants, antacids | Chamomile, peppermint, ginger (in pots), rosemary (in pots) |
| Pennsylvania | 5–7 | Moderate-high | Statins, antacids, antidepressants | Garlic, onions, cold-hardy greens, peppermint, chamomile |
| Indiana | 5–6 | High | Opioids, antidepressants | Peppermint, chamomile, cold-tolerant greens |
| Louisiana | 8–9 | High | Antacids, antidepressants, pain meds | Turmeric, ginger, okra, sweet potatoes, leafy greens |
| Alabama | 7–9 | High | Opioids, antacids, antidepressants | Turmeric (zone 8+), ginger, greens, peppers, sweet potatoes |
| New Jersey | 6–7 | Moderate | Statins, antacids, antidepressants | Garlic, onions, greens, peppermint, chamomile, cold-hardy herbs |
| California | 9–11 | Moderate | Statins, antacids, antidepressants | Turmeric, ginger, rosemary, lavender, year-round vegetables |
Top Medication Classes & Plant-Based Food Support
Antidepressants (SSRIs)
~30 million Americans; highest rates in upper Midwest, West Virginia
Lifestyle root causes: Chronic stress, sleep deprivation, sedentary behavior, refined diet
Food-first plants:
- Tulsi (Holy Basil) – adaptogen; gentle mood & nervous system support
- Peppermint – calming tea
- Omega-3 plants: Flax, chia, walnuts (mood & inflammation)
- B-complex foods: Leafy greens, legumes, whole grains
- Movement + sleep: Non-negotiable foundational changes
Opioids
~10 million Americans; crisis in Appalachia (WV, KY, OH, PA)
Root causes: Chronic pain from injury, poor posture, inflammation; inadequate physical therapy
Plant-based pain support:
- Turmeric + black pepper + fat – potent anti-inflammatory
- Ginger – circulation, inflammation
- Rosemary – topical oil for massage; circulation
- Movement: Physical therapy, stretching, walking
- Sleep: Quality sleep amplifies pain tolerance
Antacids (PPIs)
~20 million Americans; highest in South and Upper Midwest
Root causes: Refined diet, stress, irregular eating, processed foods
Food-first approach:
- Ginger tea – digestive support before meals
- Peppermint – calming to GI tract
- Fermented foods: Sauerkraut, kimchi (beneficial flora)
- Bone broth – healing to gut lining
- Whole foods only; eliminate processed + fried
Statins
~30 million Americans; preventive overuse in older populations
Root causes: Inflammatory diet, sedentary, high stress
Food-first support:
- Oily fish, nuts, seeds – omega-3 fatty acids
- Garlic, onions – circulation; mild cholesterol support
- Leafy greens – magnesium, folate
- Regular movement – most powerful lever
- Stress management – inflammation driver
Overmedication by Region
Appalachia (WV, KY, OH, PA)
Challenge: Highest opioid + antidepressant rates. Legacy of coal industry injuries, economic decline, and limited access to physical therapy.
Stewardship response: Cold-hardy gardens (zones 5–7) + community-building. Garlic, onions, cold-tolerant greens, peppermint, chamomile grow easily in Appalachian climates. Home food production reduces processed diet; community gardens reduce isolation.
Deep South (WV, KY, LA, AL, MS)
Challenge: High rates of antacids, opioids, antidepressants. High poverty, food deserts, limited preventive care access.
Stewardship response: Warm zones (7–9) allow year-round growing. Turmeric, ginger, okra, sweet potatoes, leafy greens thrive in containers or small yards. Multi-generational family gardening reclaims cultural food traditions and reduces medication dependency.
Upper Midwest (OH, IN, IL, MI)
Challenge: High depression rates (winter, industrial decline), antacid use (processed diet), seasonal affective patterns.
Stewardship response: Zones 5–6 favor cold-hardy herbs + preserved foods. Peppermint, chamomile, garlic, onions, preserved greens. Root cellaring + fermentation culture extends harvest. Greenhouses enable winter tulsi + ginger in containers.
Florida & Sunbelt (FL, AZ, TX)
Challenge: Aging populations, high polypharmacy, antacids, statins, pain medications.
Stewardship response: Year-round growing (zones 8–11). Turmeric, ginger, okra, peppers, sweet potatoes, leafy greens available 11 months/year. Community gardening reduces isolation; multigenerational nutrition improves medication tolerance.
Data Sources & Methodology
- CDC National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) – medication use prevalence
- SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services – opioid + depression data by state
- Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) – healthcare spending, regional variations
- National Health Statistics Reports – prescription drug use trends
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map – growing zone assignments
Caveat: State-level data is aggregated and may mask significant variation by county, race, income, and urban vs. rural status. Use as planning reference; adjust for local conditions.
Next: Interactive Map
A clickable SVG map of the U.S. showing:
- Medication rate color-coding (low → high)
- USDA zone overlay
- Featured plants for that state (turmeric, ginger, herbs, etc.)
- Link to regional gardening guide + clinician collaboration templates
Coming soon: Embed a responsive SVG map with state tooltips and interactive filtering.
Faithfrontier Stewardship Principle
"Jesus entered the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers."
We do not reject legitimate medicine. We reject dependency-by-default—the assumption that pharmaceuticals are the only pathway to wellness. We champion informed consent, stewardship of the body, and the healing power of food, movement, sleep, and community.
Where pharmaceutical overuse has extracted wealth and health from communities, we propose local food production, clinician partnership, and a return to foundational wellness.