Prescription Drug Advertising Essay
Drug Advertising Some drugs are good, at least some pharmaceutical advertising wants people to believe that. Since 1983, prescription drug advertising on television has become a topic of debate, should it be allowed or not allowed. What is DTCA? DTCA is direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising on television. The use of direct to consumer prescription drug advertising should be prohibited, as it leads to potential overmedication, possible drug abuse and could add to the overall cost of the drug. The first prescription drug advertisement aired in 1983 and was advertising the drug Rufen, which was a prescribable, anti-inflammatory and pain relieving drug. After just two days of being aired on television, the FDA sent a letter to Boots
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On average, an advertising company earns about four billion dollars a year on advertising and consumers buying the drugs (Khosla 2). Also, advertisers receive money every time one of their prescription drug ads is aired on television, the average is about one dollar and two cents. However, prescription drug advertisements that are displayed on television can lead to consumers ad or patients over medicating themselves. For example, Lurie writes, “Predictions that direct-to-consumer advertising would lead to patients demanding specific medications from their doctors have proven to be true. As a result of these ads, doctors are prescribing unnecessary medications” (Lurie 1). Doctors are prescribing patients drugs they do not need which is leading to drug abuse and over medication because the consumers are getting any drug they want from seeing it on television and then asking their doctors or physicians for the drug. Also in 2013, eighty-one percent of doctors said that drug advertising promotes overmedication (Lurie 5). For example, doctors are prescribing more Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication twenty-five more frequently (due to the advertisements) than in the United Kingdom and New Zealand which is the only other country that allows prescription drug advertising on television (Lurie 5). Although direct-to-consumer drug advertising boosts sales in the general public it can lead to overmedication and possible drug
On average, an advertising company earns about four billion dollars a year on advertising and consumers buying the drugs (Khosla 2). Also, advertisers receive money every time one of their prescription drug ads is aired on television, the average is about one dollar and two cents. However, prescription drug advertisements that are displayed on television can lead to consumers ad or patients over medicating themselves. For example, Lurie writes, “Predictions that direct-to-consumer advertising would lead to patients demanding specific medications from their doctors have proven to be true. As a result of these ads, doctors are prescribing unnecessary medications” (Lurie 1). Doctors are prescribing patients drugs they do not need which is leading to drug abuse and over medication because the consumers are getting any drug they want from seeing it on television and then asking their doctors or physicians for the drug. Also in 2013, eighty-one percent of doctors said that drug advertising promotes overmedication (Lurie 5). For example, doctors are prescribing more Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication twenty-five more frequently (due to the advertisements) than in the United Kingdom and New Zealand which is the only other country that allows prescription drug advertising on television (Lurie 5). Although direct-to-consumer drug advertising boosts sales in the general public it can lead to overmedication and possible drug