The Pros And Cons Of Prescription Drug Advertising

981 Words2 Pages

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

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Melody Peterson's 'Our Daily Meds'

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Melody Peterson’s “Our Daily Meds” , the history of marketing and advertising in the pharmaceutical industry is explored. The first chapter of the book, entitled “Creating disease”, focuses on how major pharmaceutical companies successfully create new ailments that members of the public believe exist. According to Peterson, the success that these drug manufacturers have experienced can be attributed to the malleability of disease, the use of influencial people to promote new drugs, the marketing behind pills, and the use of media outlets.

    Read More

  • Corruption of the Pharmaceutical Industry in America

    2937 Words  | 6 Pages

    In America today, many people are in need of medical help. In fact,the Federal Trade Commission estimates that 75% of the population complain of physical problems (Federal Trade Commission 9). They complain, for example, of fatigue, colds, headaches, and countless other "ailments." When these symptoms strike, 65% purchase over-the counter, or OTC, drugs. In order to take advantage of this demand, five billion dollars is spent by the pharmaceutical industry on marketing each year . This marketing, usually in the form of advert...

    Read More

  • Prescription Drug Advertising Pros And Cons

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    Direct-to-consumer prescription drug ads are dangerous and can have serious effects on the health of the general public. In the article “Pros & Cons Arguments: ‘Should prescription drugs be advertised directly to consumers?’”, the pros and cons of the advertising of prescription drugs are compared. The negative aspects of these ads outweigh that of the positives. DTC prescription drug ads misinform patients, promote over-usage, and pressure medical providers. The counter side argues that these ads inform patients, create a positive impact on patient compliance with medication, and cause patients to confront their doctors.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Direct-To-Consumer Advertising

    1589 Words  | 4 Pages

    In 1985, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed a ruling to allow direct marketing to consumers as long as the pharmaceutical companies included warnings about possible side effects and other dangers. This change allowed for print-based marketing such as magazines, but in 1997, the FDA lessened the requirement for detailed warnings. Furthermore, the FDA ruled that TV ads containing only the main dangers of the drug were permissible, and this resulted in an inundation of the direct-to-consumer advertising on television. “One study showed that for each dollar of direct-to-consumer advertising on TV by the pharmaceutical company during 1999-2000 resulted in a return of $4.20 for each dollar spent. By 2005, the pharmaceutical industry spent over one billion on TV ads” (DeGeorge 319). Based on these facts, the advertising is paying off for these large pharmaceutical companies.

    Read More

  • The Rise in the Price of Prescription Drugs

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the business of drug production over the years, there have been astronomical gains in the technology of pharmaceutical drugs. More and more drugs are being made for diseases and viruses each day, and there are many more drugs still undergoing research and testing. These "miracle" drugs are expensive, however, and many Americans cannot afford these prices.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Drug Advertising On Lyrica

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    Drug advertising for prescription medications comes in many forms including ads in magazines or newspaper, TV commercials, radio broadcasts, brochures, etc. It was in the mid 80s when drug companies started to direct information on prescription drugs to consumers instead of only focusing information on the physicians or pharmacists (FDA, 2012). The change seen in prescription drug promotion towards the public is known as direct-to-consumer advertising. This type of advertising is completely directed to a general audience rather than healthcare providers.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Big Pharmaceutical Insurance

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Kantar Media, “It paid off for Big Pharma.” The same year, Americans spent a record $457 billion on prescription drugs.” The reason all of the patients have been filling their prescriptions is because big pharma is making the most money off of the filling of prescriptions. It has been determined that they are forcing patients to get their prescriptions even if they do not need them. In advertisements it fails to tell you the hidden costs and the devastating side effects this makes the critics say,” The ads drive up drug prices and erode the patient-doctor relationship.” This causes the patients to become untrustworthy of their doctors and they fear that they have to take something that they don't need, and i makes them think they have a disease because of the false advertisement

    Read More

  • Negative Effects Of Prescription Drug Advertising

    1406 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prescription drug advertising is a normal part of living in the United States. Considering what people can learn through advertising in society is almost unreal. The US population have encountered drug advertisements dating back to the early 1900’s. From heroin to aspirin and everything in between were at once listed to be advertised. Fast forward to today, and pharmaceutical companies continue to use high amounts of prescription drugs advertisements. People right now are seeing the effects that these advertisements have in negative ways, but also at the same time creating benefits in society.

    Read More

  • Drug Company Marketing Campaigns

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ad campaigns that blanketed the airwaves aimed at the end consumer are no longer as effective as they once were. Citing the strategy of Sepracor in marketing their new insomnia drug, they noted that they spent nearly $70M on the initial campaign. However, a rival maker was committing no money to TV ads. Their market research had determined that the market wasn’t growing and the money would be better spent targeting the doctors who prescribe the drugs. While a pitch to the individual may result in a request at the doctor’s office for a particular drug, the doctor has final say in the process, so this new strategy on the surface appears to make sense. Only time will tell if it is effective.

    Read More

  • Summary: Direct-To-Consumer Advertising

    569 Words  | 2 Pages

    Significantly, for pharmaceutical companies to continue to increase its profits in the United States of America, the role of direct-to-consumer and direct-to-physician advertisements lays the groundwork for pharmaceutical companies to succeed in a free-market society. However and often ignored by most pharmaceutical companies, its advertisements are heavily consumed with bias and deceiving information about its medical medications and medical treatments towards both consumers and physicians alike. In Amanda L. Connors’ article titled, Big Bad Pharma: An Ethical Analysis of Physician- Directed and Consumer-Directed Marketing Tactics, explains how pharmaceutical companies forget their moral objective of providing safe and effective medical medications

    Read More

  • Deontological Advertising

    1292 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the age of information, we are no longer limited to television and radio to obtain knowledge. As manifested by my own experiences, if someone would have told me fifteen years ago, that I was to complete my college education online, I would have laughed. I am quite content that technology has put us where we are today. The advertising industry can probably express the same sentiment. However, recently, there has been a growing concern about the ethical soundness of pharmaceutical companies directly marketing prescription medication to consumers. A number of organizations are actively lobbying congress in attempts to establish legislation prohibiting pharmaceutical companies to directly market prescription drugs to consumers (Gregory). However, it seems that this argument might be skewed and its intentions a bit misguided. Is it that they are against the methods in which pharmaceutical companies use to engage consumers? Is it the frequency? Maybe it is the staggering revenue figures companies earn that put a negative twist to people on the opposing end of this deba...

    Read More

  • Selling Sickness

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Selling Sickness reveals the marketing techniques of the world's biggest and most powerful drug companies. These industries are now aggressively targeting the healthy and well households and individuals throughout the world. Promotional campaigns are being used to exploit some of human's deepest fears: death, illness, and disease. The $500 billion pharmaceutical industry is practically changing what it means to be human. Pharmaceutical companies have been rightfully rewarded for saving millions of lives and reducing suffering, but this book argues that the lines are being crossed from reaching from the ill to merchandise to the healthy.

    Read More

  • The Ethics Of Prescription Drug Advertising

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    Just exactly what Gary Ruskin said “Pharmaceutical advertising does not promote public health. It increases the cost of drugs and the number of unnecessary prescriptions, which is expensive to taxpayers, and can be harmful or deadly to patients.”(Ruskin, 2010). As a result of doing all these advertisements the cost of drugs will increase, therefore the public will get affected. DR. Robert M. Centor, director of the division of general Internal Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, stated the following: “Direct-to-consumer drug advertising works very well - for pharmaceutical company profits, BUT not for the public health. Drug advertising results in more costly prescriptions. Few inexpensive drugs are advertised on TV. The commercials don't educate patients. Rather, they create a demand for a product based on an effective commercial rather than the patient's medical need...” he also said “Direct-to-consumer ads should be banned. Doctors and patients have much to gain. Only the pharmaceutical industry has anything to lose."(Centon, 2010). Gary Ruskin authored the following statement: “Pharmaceutical advertising does not promote public health. It increases the cost of drugs and the number of unnecessary prescriptions, which is expensive to taxpayers, and can be harmful or deadly

    Read More

  • The Last Two Aspects Of The Categorical Imperative

    210 Words  | 1 Pages

    “If the maxim passes all three tests, it is moral, but if it fails any one of the three then it is immoral” (DeGeorge 67). Even though I do not feel that the practice passes the universal test, I will continue by looking at the last two aspects of the categorical imperative. To have good will according to Kant’s belief, one must perform the duty for the sake of the duty with no other reasons in mind. In this case, drug companies claim they are providing medical information and treatment knowledge to inform the public, but their main reason for advertising is to sell their product to increase profits. “It would be disingenuous to claim that TV ads achieved these returns without exerting any influence on prescribing patterns” (Lo). The second

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Prescription Drugs

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    The improvement in physical and mental health due to pharmaceutical or prescription drugs, has given Americans a sense of protection and trust against drug medications. In today’s times, expanded use of prescription meds is a key component of modern health care. What Americans often fail to realize is that even though these drugs may seem safe, they can pose a threat to human life. Many consumers fail to read or pay attention to the drug labels upon use. Consumers often overlook prescription drug labels because the “labels fail to attract attention” (Bello).

    Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Prescription Drug Advertising

Open Document