The Prescription You Never Finished: Understanding Why Patients Abandon Medications—and How to Build a Regimen That Actually Lasts
Millions of Americans leave the pharmacy with a prescription they will never complete. Medication non-adherence is one of the most consequential and least-discussed crises in American healthcare, costing the system an estimated $300 billion annually and contributing to preventable hospitalizations, disease progression, and death. This article examines the real reasons patients stop taking medications they genuinely need—and offers evidence-based strategies for building lasting adherence.