If we know that Americans are hooked on prescription drugs, then why are we bombarded daily with ‘drug ads' repeatedly throughout daytime programming? We've never had so many ads before and why do you think that is?
Dr. Oz was recently featured on the Oprah Show and the topic was about
prescription drug addiction. Dr. Oz is quoted as saying that, "what
started out as a legitimate prescription for pills from a doctor now
has 6 million Americans addicted".
The answer is ‘money' and it is what the pharmaceutical companies are spending to have direct-to-consumer advertising. This type of advertising has more than tripled between 1997 and 2005 and the amount spent has grown from $1.3 billion to $4.2 billion. The advertising has increased ever since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) relaxed the restrictions on governing drug ads. Unbelievable – isn't it ?!
I'm willing to bet that most Americans don't know that ONLY the United States and New Zealand allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise medications directly to consumers on television and this is according to the FDA.
According to doctors and patient advocates, the companies are getting very good returns on their investment. Spending money on prescription drugs has grown faster than any other type of health-care spending in the U.S. This information is coming from CalPIRG (California Public Interest Research Group), which is a public advocacy group.
It probably can be said that the pharmaceutical companies and doctors alike want people to make informed decisions so they understand risks and benefits of medical treatments, however, the benefit information in the ads quite often is very general and vague. The ads appeal to emotions and tend to romanticize drugs that everything will seem better IF you take ‘this or that drug'! The public viewer needs to keep in mind, these are actors that are paid to look happy and sell whatever drug they are pitching!
With health costs rising, especially for senior citizens on Medicare, one has to ask if all these drug ads are driving our medical costs up and over-medicating by over-prescribing the American public. The next concern is how much time is spent with the patient by the doctor just to cover ALL the side effects that any one particular drug might cause the patient.
Vioxx is the perfect example as to how much it was advertised at one time and prescribed only to be pulled off the pharmacy shelves because it killed thousands of people. Did the FDA do a ‘test-drive' on this drug before they approved it?
With the health care reform on everyone's mind these days, it should be especially noted that drug ads are NOT serving the public in their best interest. The drug ads are only adding to the already out-of-control drug problem in America.
Howard
has a keen interest in alternative and integrative health methods.
His research has revealed that a person's eating habits and lifestyle
can have a dramatic affect on their health. Howard has extensive
background in video production and has conducted numerous video
interviews with professionals in the alternative health field.
Thanks, Howard, for the information. I didn't know we were one of only two countries to allow these ads. I have mixed emotions about if they should be allowed. When it comes down to it, I have a remote and the ability to change the channel so that is what I do. Welcome to SearchWarp.
Great article, I think that doctors are so geared towards giving a prescription for every ailment, that they don't investigate other alternatives very often.
Thanks Howard. It is amazing what drug companies are able to get away with in the U.S. (and I guess New Zealand as well). I was wondering if you have read two very good books, in my opinion, by Dr. Peter Breggin: Talking Back To Prozac & Talking Back To Ritalin? His work appears to mirror your mission of getting people (especially children) off these powerful and sometimes extremely harmful, psychotropic meds. Thank you again for writing this and welcome to SearchWarp.
I enjoyed the article. I am the caregiver for my Mother-in-Law (80 yrs) and the largest concern and problem I have is with the medications prescribed by either the doctor or hospital. It appears it is easier to over prescribe drugs than to do a history of the patient and then evaluate the immediate needs and only prescribe the needed ones. I watch TV and find it difficult at times to even understand what the drug was designed for, and then to try to compare the side affects of the medications with the ones she is already taking. Thank goodness for some of the pharmacists, they still will help in letting you know if there may be a interaction with medications. When your are 80 yrs. old and have conjestive heart failure, there is a thin line between experimental prescriptions and ones that will cause immediate and fatal problems. Keep the information coming, it is needed. I use drugs for pain and to relax her when she has an attack but if I were to give her the amounts listed on the bottles, she would either sleep most of the time or worst. This is a situation that I live with everyday and how much is enough. Does it do its job or what are the signs of addition or worst.
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