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TV Ads Create Uninformed Demand for Prescription Drugs
Despite the claims that tv ads play an educational role, they contain limited information about causes and symptoms of their target illnesses, their prevalence and risk factors. They also show people that have lost control over their social, emotional or physical lives without the medication; and they minimize the value of health promotion through lifestyle changes. The ads have limited educational value and may oversell the benefits of drugs in ways that might conflict with promoting public health.
We're seeing a dramatization of health problems that many people used to manage without prescription drugs. The ads send the message that you need drugs to manage these problems and that without medication your life will be less enjoyable, more painful and maybe even out of control.
Should we consider banning direct to consumer tv advertising of prescription drugs altogether?
Posted by Phil Daigle on February 3, 2007 10:17 PM
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