Prescription Drug Abuse: A Case Study

In United States, we have a major problem with the addiction of prescription drugs. “Prescription drugs are playing an increasingly larger role in U.S. life, with nearly half of all Americans taking one or more medications” (Thompson 2013-2014). “Since I went to pharmacy school, I learned Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) and FDA rules and regulation which made me wonder about how and why misuse and abuse of prescription drugs costs the country an estimated of $53.4 billion, which is very high compare to other countries. With such a strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules and regulation, I would think that America should not have to worry about Prescription drug addiction, but I guess that is not the case. I always wonder
In “Memory and Comprehension of Magazine-Based Prescription Drug Advertisements Among young and Old Adults”, Abernathy and Adams-prices states “Hoen (1998) suggests that pharmaceutical advertisements may mislead consumers about the safety and efficacy of specific medications. Moreover, medication information in advertisements may be overly simplistic”. In “Irresponsible Reminders: Ethical Aspects of Direct-to Consumer Drug Advertising Article”, LA Barbara sates “Consumers often lack the specialized medical knowledge and access to health care required to make informed judgments about the product. The result is a dangerous potential for persuasive advertising, which hinders rather than promotes consumer choice”. Direct-to Consumer advertising of Prescription drugs provides no information about the product and the advertisements are unethical. There are reasons we have medical doctors and medical school. Pharmaceutical companies need to provide medical doctors the knowledge of the drugs it has developed. FDA should not allow direct-to consumers advertising of prescription drugs as people may not have enough knowledge other than what is the drug used for. It’s not consumer’s job to make decision on which drug they should use to treat their medical condition, only medical professionals
E. (2006). Memory and Comprehension of Magazine-Based Prescription Drug Advertisements among Young and Old Adults. Journal of Current Issues & Research in Advertising (CTC Press), 28(2), 1-13.Retrieve from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=250616d2-fbc5-4eb0-8a39-272a0c8f07a4%40sessionmgr111&vid=1&hid=107
Arney, J., Street Jr., R. L., & Naik, A. D. (2013). Consumers ' various and surprising responses to direct-to-consumer advertisements in magazine print. Retrieved fromhttp://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy- library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=14&sid=45268e1a-a46f-4622-af17- library.ashford.edu/ac7c2eafb9e3%40sessionmgr113&hid=107 La Barbera, C. P. (2012). Irresponsible Reminders: Ethical Aspects of Direct–to Consumer Drug Advertising .Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/ pdfviewer?Sid=45268e1a-a46f-4622-af17