Journal LehiNephi's Journal: TV ads for Prescription Drugs should be Banned 2
Here's another pet peeve of mine: commercials for prescription drugs on TV. And here's why:
Certain drugs require a prescription from a doctor. There are various very good reasons for this. Some drugs can be addictive. Many are dangerous to the patient if not taken correctly. Antibiotics are dangerous to society if not taken correctly. Many drugs have nasty interactions with other drugs. Many diseases or disorders can require different drugs based on subtle differences in the patient's condition. In short, without a prescription system, we would see people killing themselves due to overdose, killing themselves because of a drug interaction, becoming addicted to some drug, contributing to antibiotic-resistant diseases, etc. That's why we have doctors and pharmacists who prescribe specific drugs for specific patients.
So why advertise on TV to people who don't know enough to correctly self-medicate? Because of those magic words "Ask your doctor about [insert medicine name here]." These people have zero need to know about Megadrug or Instacure. If a person has a health problem, he or she can go to a doctor. Doctors are trained to recognize medical conditions and prescribe (if necessary) the correct medicine. Now, however, we have people going in to their doctor and saying "I have condition X, give me medicine Y" instead of letting the doctor do his job, for which he is far better qualified than the patient is.
So as a result, you have pharmaceutical companies spending ridiculous amounts of money on TV ads (which raises the cost of the drug, which is passed on to the customer), and a lot of people who think they know what they need because of a commercial on TV. Oh, and a lot of people who think "Gee, I didn't sleep well last night, I must need a 'sleep aid' to help!"--or, in effect, overmedication.
Let me see if I can say this succinctly. Drug companies spend lots of money marketing to people who can't be trusted with making a decision about buying their products. These people will be convinced that they need it, just like they need a new car or a home equity loan to pay for a new boat. The difference is that the result can be far more dangerous. People complain about expensive prescription drugs, and drug companies complain about the cost of bringing drugs to market. Banning the marketing of prescription drugs to the pubic would benefit both parties.
Certain drugs require a prescription from a doctor. There are various very good reasons for this. Some drugs can be addictive. Many are dangerous to the patient if not taken correctly. Antibiotics are dangerous to society if not taken correctly. Many drugs have nasty interactions with other drugs. Many diseases or disorders can require different drugs based on subtle differences in the patient's condition. In short, without a prescription system, we would see people killing themselves due to overdose, killing themselves because of a drug interaction, becoming addicted to some drug, contributing to antibiotic-resistant diseases, etc. That's why we have doctors and pharmacists who prescribe specific drugs for specific patients.
So why advertise on TV to people who don't know enough to correctly self-medicate? Because of those magic words "Ask your doctor about [insert medicine name here]." These people have zero need to know about Megadrug or Instacure. If a person has a health problem, he or she can go to a doctor. Doctors are trained to recognize medical conditions and prescribe (if necessary) the correct medicine. Now, however, we have people going in to their doctor and saying "I have condition X, give me medicine Y" instead of letting the doctor do his job, for which he is far better qualified than the patient is.
So as a result, you have pharmaceutical companies spending ridiculous amounts of money on TV ads (which raises the cost of the drug, which is passed on to the customer), and a lot of people who think they know what they need because of a commercial on TV. Oh, and a lot of people who think "Gee, I didn't sleep well last night, I must need a 'sleep aid' to help!"--or, in effect, overmedication.
Let me see if I can say this succinctly. Drug companies spend lots of money marketing to people who can't be trusted with making a decision about buying their products. These people will be convinced that they need it, just like they need a new car or a home equity loan to pay for a new boat. The difference is that the result can be far more dangerous. People complain about expensive prescription drugs, and drug companies complain about the cost of bringing drugs to market. Banning the marketing of prescription drugs to the pubic would benefit both parties.
How? (Score:2)
If a majority can see the ban as good, then most of the battle is already won - not to introduce the ban, but in education of the ability to recognize ones own ignorance and still make sensible decisions.
A ban introduced any other way will protect users from their own ignorance without educating them - better let them go to see their doctor who can charge them $$ by the hour to explain why they don't need it.
It's an annoying pr
Re: (Score:2)