Are drug commercials pushing drug addiction?

Yes

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by Andrea D. Hutchinson

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It seems that for every commercial break there is at least one commercial advertisement for medication. The ads fluctuate, but at least one over the counter and prescription drug is hawked for each approximate 2 minute station break. America has become addicted to their aches and pains. Another problem is that these commercials appear to be having an effect on drug addictions themselves.

Drug companies came to the realization that these commercials increase their revenue by appealing directly to the consumer. This is done through the phenomenon of the American prescription commercials. No longer relying upon the physician recommending their medications, they are encouraging the patient to ask for the medication by telling them the symptoms to look for. These companies spend grandiose amounts of money annually on these advertisements. With the knowledge of this information over the past few years, the pharmaceutical companies plan to increase these sales tactics in the near future.

Viagra, Zoloft, Tylenol and Advil, all products advertised firstly by pointing to the problem, describing each symptom in detail. Then secondly, promoting their product as the silver bullet. Thirdly, making sure to list the side effects as quickly as possible, while the consumer is considering their personal symptoms. This is required of them by the FDA. Then finally encouraging the consumer to contact their physician.

Prior to this high velocity advertising, the average consumer would spend a day or so making sure they were not feeling well before contacting a physician. There are those old enough to remember a time when one's mother would make sure your fever was over 101.0 before even calling the pediatrician. A baby aspirin, cold compress to the forehead and bed rest,with coloring books and crayons, was the remedy for the fever of 100 and below. Now young mother's fear any temperature above 98.6. American pharmaceutical commercials are instilling fear into the American family.

What else are they instilling? Drug addiction is an epidemic in many of the American communities today. This problem knows no racial or economical barriers. It is even gaining ground on the age barrier these days. However, can we actually blame any part of the American drug addiction upon these commercials? I believe we can safely say they endorse the use of a drug to improve just about any issue person could conjure in their lives.

Headaches to erectile dysfunctions it seems there is a prescription drug for the mere thought of a bad day. Depression hurts, yes, but how many within the American population is truly clinically depressed? The DSM IV has very specific descriptions of mental illnesses. From depression to mental disorders and mental illness, there is strict criteria for the physician to follow to make this diagnosis. This too is the rule for any medical problem in the family and pediatric fields, as well. Now? The consumer is fed the symptoms to ponder, left to decide for themselves that they are ill, without the benefit of a medical degree. When did the pharmaceutical companies obtain their medical degrees?

The pharmaceutical companies have found a way to tell the public that they are capable of diagnosing themselves, leaving the doctor out of the equation. With, of course, the exception of accepting the symptoms brought to them by the patient and writing the prescription. America is diagnosing illnesses from the common cold to major depression prior to seeking any professional medical advice, aside from that which they see on television.

The new trend for drug addictions is the use of any prescription medication that can be found in the medicine cabinet at home. A practice particular to our youth. It is an effective high and it is free. Too often we go to the doctor these days with the list of symptoms from the commercial we have seen for days or weeks, along with a $10 coupon in hand. Soon we find that the medication is not doing what it was advertised to do. Why? Probably because we were not ill. The prescription gets pushed to the back of the cabinet and forgotten about. Just waiting for a sad teenager or one of their friend's looking for a quick pick me up or put me down. Does this happen? Absolutely, and much more frequently than one would think.

Advertising is simply a sales tactic to see to it that the consumer sees a product often enough to decide that they want or need the product. A billion dollar industry in and of itself, commercial advertising is the best trend retail sales has ever experienced. The consumer sees and hears the benefits, multiple times a day, week and year. With each new drug developed for depression, weight and sleep loss, a new commercial airs to hawk the silver bullet of the month. Then each pharmaceutical company must advertise their version of the drug. Now there are two or three different companies asking you to diagnose your illness. It is a vicious circle of pharmaceutical malpractice.

The trend of pharmaceutical commercials is expected to continue to increase. I believe it would not be wrong to state that more people will decide that they have one illness or another. Being that these drugs are often described as habit forming, the natural conclusion is that the commercial will create more individual's that are addicted to prescription drugs. Sadly it appears to be the inevitable conclusion. One cannot help but think that the diagnosis should be left to the professionals, as should the prescribing of medication the patient should take.

Commercials of all kinds, televised, print and coupon are meant to convince a consuming public to choose a particular product. Multiple product companies vie for the consumers attention and money. We are being fed illnesses and addictions at an alarming rate here in America. In a time that society is looking for a solution to today's problems, aches and pains, it seems a sin that these companies are allowed to flash feed them with solutions in pill form. Can anyone say Big Tobacco and Alcohol? What is the difference here?

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