According to the textbook, __________________ have the highest number of prescriptions written each year.

• A. Sedatives
• B. Antidepressants
• C. Narcotics
• D. Hypnotics

Answer: (C)

Pain management drives very high prescription volumes. Narcotics, or opioid analgesics, are used across many settings—emergency rooms, hospital stays, postoperative care, and outpatient treatment—and across a broad range of conditions from acute injuries to cancer-related pain. This widespread need for effective pain relief means a large number of prescriptions are written for these drugs each year. While sedatives and hypnotics are prescribed for specific sleep or anxiety issues and antidepressants are also commonly prescribed, the textbook emphasizes that the broad, ongoing demand for opioid analgesia pushes their total prescription count higher than other drug classes.