Movement Against Prescription Drug Abuse

Direct-to-consumer advertisements of prescription drugs have become common aspects in today's advertising mediums such as Television and magazines. Direct-to-consumer advertising has partially been brought by the development of the pharmaceutical marketplace. These developments have contributed to the presentation of more information to patients in attempts to make the health care system better. In the current pharmaceutical marketplace, advertising has become an important aspect for survival and growth in the health care outlets. For many health care outlets, television is regarded as the most efficient way for advertising in the pharmaceutical marketplace. While there are considerations on whether prescription drugs should be advertised to the general public, it's important to note that health care consumers should make their own choices.

Her main focus was on the television (T.V.) advertising of medicine that is done in this country. She finds it highly unethical that pharmaceutical companies advertise drugs that are needed by patients. She further explained that it is also the way which marketing is conducted, “showing cheery people with fabulous hair on sunny days” (F. McClure, personal communication, October 14, 2013). The general public is naive to the possible side effects of these drugs and/or do not grasp the severity of many of them. Most people are looking at the pleasing visuals in these commercials, therefore they do not notice the side effects of the drugs, because the notices are in small print or run through so quickly they are incomprehensible. The viewers want what they see and ask their physicians for these drugs by name. In turn, doctors order the drugs; the companies grow bigger and market more drugs. It is a perpetual cycle, McClure expounds, and one that she and many of her cohorts wish would stop.

Most people are familiar with prescription medications; almost everyone has taken them at one point or another during their lifetime. Not all prescription drugs are addicting, but a large number of them are. Prescription drug abuse is a disease that has become a major problem in the United States, which affects over six-million Americans. Prescription drug abuse not only affects the individual, but can additionally have far-reaching consequences that affect family, personal health, employment, communities and society as a whole. Research has shown that at least 10% of people prescribed an addictive medication will become dependent on the medicine. Due to prescription drug abuse, states are beginning to monitor doctors who prescribe certain medications, more closely, which may scare some physicians away from prescribing helpful medications to people who truly need them.

Prescription drug abuse is not a new problem within our society. Prescription drug abuse has in fact been an ongoing problem that is currently spinning out of control. There are many people within our society that are currently dealing with prescription drug addiction. Prescription drug abuse is the intentional use of a medication without a prescription; in a way other than as prescribed; or for the experience or feeling it causes (The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction, 2014). Prescription drugs are developed to assist with various medical problems, and when prescribed by a medical professional are helpful for patients. The using prescriptions for those other than intended for may cause a number of serious issues

Appalachia is a cultural, highland region of the southeastern US, containing the Appalachian Mountains, extending from Alabama up to Pennsylvania (CDC, 2010). Given its hallmark high poverty, low educational attainment and geographic isolation, the Appalachian region is a vulnerable priority population at a heightened risk for prescription drug abuse (CDC, 2010). As previously alluded to, the burden of opioid abuse and overdose deaths is substantially higher in Appalachia than other areas of the U.S. Since 1996, an increasing number of programs have provided the opioid antagonist naloxone hydrochloride, the method of choice to reverse the potentially fatal respiratory depression caused by overdose of heroin and other opioids (CDC, 2010). Community coalitions, law enforcement, concerned friends, families and good Samaritans alike have each asserted that naloxone’s virtually untapped potential to save lives is enormous. Adding further standing, naloxone is on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) model list of essential medicines and is described as, "a safe drug with a low risk of serious side effects" and that "any adult capable of learning basic life support can also learn to recognize an opioid overdose, and administer naloxone in time to save lives." Another benefit is that naloxone is extremely cheap; available at less than $2 a dose in many countries

Smoking continues to be an increasing problem in both the United States and around the world. Advertisements of many types continue to aid in lowering the use of cigarettes by teenagers. In this advertisement, published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many rhetorical devices are used to help appeal to the audience’s senses, understanding, and perception on smoking cigarettes. Using a young woman in the advertisement shifts the focus towards teenagers that smoke cigarettes, have thought about smoking, or have been around others that do smoke. With the incorporation of the FDA’s “The Real Cost” campaign logo, facts about the outcome of smoking, and the photograph of the young girl's face, this advertisement serves the purpose of grabbing the attention of teenagers that use cigarettes and warns them of the negative outcomes of smoking by using certain appeals: ethos, pathos, and logos.

Prescription drug abuse, now known as the “silent epidemic,” is spreading rapidly in the United States, so who’s to blame? This essay will argue that oftentimes, pharmaceutical companies are responsible for luring the opioid dependent population, and more often than not, causing their deaths. It is their greed that over powers the true meaning of medicine. One would think that millions of dollars in profits would be enough. However, considering it is a multibillion dollar industry, apparently not. Selfishness shown by bribery, false advertisements and “the Domino Effect,” will reveal that they are truly guilty.

There are many prescription medications that doctors prescribe to improve the health and lives of their patients. However, even drugs that come from doctors and pharmacies can be abused. As doctors around the country write more prescriptions, the number of people who abuse prescription drugs also increases.

The article, Prescription Drug Abuse: An Epidemic Dilemma, explains the significant increase in prescription drugs among youths, and drug-impaired driving. The research was conducted by Robert L. DuPont (it was published in 2010); his research produces useful knowledge since raises awareness of prescription drug abuse. Although the research article displays strengths, it also displays weaknesses.

Tegan Dalton Ms. Gibbons English Senior Thesis 11 December 2017 The Prescription for Society The biggest problem within the realm of pharmaceuticals themselves is the belief held by people that prescription drugs are not dangerous. In order to understand the use and abuse of prescription drugs, the observations of commercializing and glorifying the industry must be taken into account to realize why they are harmful to society as a whole. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, “Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed; taking somebody else’s prescription even if, for a legitimate medical complaint, such as pain; or taking a medication to feel euphoria.” This problem is complex

As medical marijuana is becoming legal, more advertisements for medical cannabis are being released. The background and color help shape the advertisement into a unique work of art that aims to grab peoples’ attention. This advertisement said, “I just saved my liver by switching to medical cannabis.” The advertisement is also associated with a well-known advertisement character for Geiko. Why are the creators writing in this way? Why is the character positioned in the way he was? Why was he facing the words? These different elements work together to produce the effect that medical marijuana is good for people and that people should buy the product.

Fleary et al. (2010) explores the degree to which prescription and non-prescription drug abuse among minors with the misguided insight that their use is safer than the illegal drugs. Through an online survey, the researchers collect data on the issue and correlate with specific variables such as community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs. The authors discover a positive correlation. This study will aid in gaining an in-depth understanding of the exact nature of relation between community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs to drug abuse in the society. It will serve as viable literature in identifying the various ways and procedures to limit and observe the access of these drugs to adolescents.

Is it possible to stop prescription drug abuse? Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem in the country. The number of people becoming addicted to and abusing prescription drugs in the U.S. is growing every day. It is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012 and an estimated 467,000 addicted to heroin. “The consequences of this abuse have been devastating and are on the rise (Volkow, (2014).” The abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise and has a negative effect on not only the people taking the drugs but their families, children and society.

In the January 18th 2016 issue of People Magazine, AstraZeneca ran an advertisement for Seroquel XR, an atypical antipsychotic. This advertisement was just one of seven prescription drug advertisements in the 94 page magazine, all urging readers to ask their doctors about a medication. These seven advertisements are a small sample of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisement that flood television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and websites in the United States. The debate about whether DTC advertisement for psychotropic medication provides the consumer with more information and power over their medical care and reduces stigma or whether it leads to physicians to prescribing medications before assessing other treatment options and adds to the

Many Americans can agree that they wouldn’t want their children being around cigarettes. However, there are still some parents out there that don’t provide the cleanest air around their young children. The advertisement used by the Child Health Foundation is used to show how young ones can die early because of these actions. Parents don’t realize how detrimental second-hand smoke is to their loved ones. This ad is effective in persuading the audience to be more cautious when smoking.