The Pros And Cons Of Prescription Drug Advertising

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Apart from New Zealand, the United States is the only other country in the world where it is lawful to advertise prescription drugs directly to the consumer (“AMA Calls for...”). Consequently, the United States is undergoing serious gratuitous issues from allowing pharmaceutical propaganda to plague our television commercials, magazine publications, and radio advertisements. Although prescription drug advertising can inform viewers about certain diseases and illnesses, the direct to consumer propaganda mostly benefits the drug companies, and it can lead to serious problems such as self diagnosing, unsafe medications, and over-medicationing. Accounting for 35 percent of the global market, the United States has the largest pharmaceutical industry in the world (“Pharmaceutical and Biotech...”). Direct-to-consumer drug commercialization is one of the main contributing factors of this high percentage. In 2015, the United States $395 billion pharmaceutical corporation spent $5.2 billion on …show more content…

When speaking to a paramedic, Randy Morris, he was describing the problems in our society that have arose because of drug advertisements. He said, “People are starting to self-diagnose their problems. The patients go into the doctor's office feeling like they are smarter than the doctor, because they think they already found a solution to their problem” (Morris). Martha Rosenberg said, “...Thanks to TV drug ads, patients tell doctors what is wrong with them and what pill they need, coupon in hand. Drug company-funded web sites even give patients talking points to use when they see the doctor, lest they don't ring up a sale. Selling prescription drugs like soap makes a mockery of a medical school education” (“Should Prescription Drugs…”). Prescription drugs are easy to obtain if you respond to the doctor’s questions with the right

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