The high cost of prescription drugs is an ongoing health crisis for millions of Americans who are desperate for relief.

These high prices often force people to choose between buying their medications and paying for gas, food or even their mortgage. Many people are either skipping doses, splitting pills or forgoing medications completely, which creates a potentially dangerous situation as these medications are used to control everything from asthma to high cholesterol to arthritis.

Little has been done to lower pharmaceutical costs in the U.S. The following are some facts you might not know about pharmaceutical costs:

? Lawmakers face resistance from pharmaceutical manufacturers who aim to maintain their high profits. Congress and state legislatures have put forth options to address our country’s high drug prices, but most proposals will take years to implement … if they move forward at all.

? The U.S. doesn’t have any laws or regulations in place to prevent or control the amount of money a pharmaceutical company can charge for its medications. Americans already pay more for prescription medications compared to patients in any other country in the world, despite the global market nature of the pharmaceutical industry.

? The Internet has made it possible for Americans to fill their prescription medications at significantly lower cost through licensed, legitimate Canadian pharmacies. These online pharmacies say they prioritize safety and affordability.

As with all industries, there are rogue players and other bad actors on the Internet. However, consumers can find licensed, legitimate online pharmacies that have safety protocols in place, including requiring a signed prescription from a patient’s doctor, and they don’t sell opioids or other controlled substances via the Internet.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its Canadian counterpart, Health Canada, are said to have equivalent standards when it comes to prescription medications. But, if you are going to buy prescriptions out of the country, research and due diligence is key.

A good place to start is The Campaign for Personal Prescription Importation,  a national, non-profit patient advocacy organization whose mandate is to advocate for Americans’ access to safe, affordable prescription medications from Canada for personal use.

? The problem is only going to get worse. The growth of spending on pharmaceuticals is expected to grow an average of 6.3 percent per year due to increasing drug prices and use of specialty drugs, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. By 2020, the Department of Commerce estimates that Americans will spend an estimated $610 billion on prescription drugs. — BPT