Final answer:
Prescription drug costs have increased due to an expansion of Medicare benefits in 2003, political lobbying by groups like AARP, and a crackdown on pill mills leading to a scarcity of drugs, which has pushed some towards illegal alternatives.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prescription drug costs have been rising for several reasons. The expansion of Medicare in 2003, facilitated by Congress and President George Bush, introduced a prescription drug benefit that initially cost the government $40 billion and was projected to increase to $121 billion by 2016. This expansion provided needed assistance to the elderly for their prescription drug costs, but also faced criticism for contributing to rising costs and inflating drug prices.
Political influences have also played a role, with organizations such as the American Association for Retired People (AARP) lobbying effectively for senior citizens. On the contrary, the 40 million people without health insurance lack such a powerful representative body. Additionally, the crackdown on pill mills and the scarcity of certain prescription pain pills have contributed to the increase in costs and a subsequent shift by those addicted towards illegal and more dangerous alternatives like heroin and synthetic opioids, further complicating the issue of drug costs and opioid abuse.