From small towns in Alabama to large cities in California, the rising cost of prescription drugs is a concern that crosses state lines and political divisions. The Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance is working to elevate national awareness about the financial burden high drug prices place on American families.

According to the PRA, Americans often pay significantly more for life-saving medications than people in other countries—in some cases, up to 30 times more for items like inhalers. The organization points to the growing disconnect between what pharmaceutical companies charge and the actual costs of research and development, which account for less than 20% of industry spending.

Millions of people depend on daily medications to manage chronic health conditions such as asthma, ADHD, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The PRA argues that high drug costs are forcing some families into impossible decisions—like choosing between filling a prescription or paying for food and other necessities.

PRA spokesperson, Emily Lampkin, says that this is not just a problem for uninsured Americans.

Even those with health insurance can be affected by inflated prices, shortages, and out-of-pocket costs that continue to climb. She has shared examples from families who have had to cut back on extracurricular activities or household needs in order to afford medications like inhalers or EpiPens.

Lampkin leads The Lampkin Group, a Washington-based public affairs firm, and previously served in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Commerce. She helped spearhead public outreach for President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind education initiative and currently sits on the board of Serving Our Children, a nonprofit focused on educational access.

Through her work with the PRA, she is calling for lawmakers to closely examine the pharmaceutical industry’s pricing models and bring more accountability to the system. She contends that the burden of inflated drug prices should not fall on working families, and that policymakers need to approach the issue with greater urgency and transparency.

• 25 million Americans suffer from asthma; nearly 1 in 5 are children.

• 1 in 10 adolescents has been diagnosed with ADHD, and prices for treatment have doubled or tripled amid national shortages.

• 1 in 3 women reports being financially insecure, many of whom are managing health-related expenses for their households.

Lampkin and the PRA argue that these issues are not isolated or hypothetical—they represent a systemic challenge facing millions across the country, regardless of geography or income level.

The Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance seeks to bring transparency to what it sees as anti-consumer practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The group maintains that many price hikes are unjustified, often exceeding inflation rates, and that the current pricing structure serves corporate profit more than public health.

They encourage citizens and elected officials alike to scrutinize how drug prices are set—and who ultimately benefits.

For more information about the organization’s work, visit pharmareformalliance.com.

Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].