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Drug Companies Promoting Drugs
for Uses not Approved by US Government
According to an article from the September 20, 2000 New
York Times, retail drug spending has seen a major increase due to drug
companies advertising directly to the public. This
was according to a new study published by the National Institute for
Health Care Management, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that conducts
research on health care issues. The study stated that, "25 of the
most heavily advertised drugs accounted for more than 40 percent of the
increase in retail drug spending last year."
The study disclosed that spending on consumer advertising
went from $1.3 billion in 1998, to $1.8 billion in 1999. This
resulted in an increase in consumer spending for retail drugs from $93.4
billion in 1998 to $111.1 billion in 1999. Consumer advertising of
drug products has been made possible since the Food and Drug
Administration relaxed the rules on direct marketing of prescription drugs
to consumers in 1997.
The NY Times article went on to say, "The study
did not discuss the accuracy of drug advertising. But in the last three
years, the government has repeatedly reprimanded drug companies after
finding false or misleading claims in TV commercials and magazine
advertisements." The article concluded with the following;
"The F.D.A. has admonished companies about commercials advertising
drugs for allergies, asthma, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hair
loss and sexually transmitted diseases, among others. In many cases, the
government said, the advertisements violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act because they overstated the benefits of a particular drug, minimized
the risks or falsely suggested that one drug was superior to another. The
F.D.A. also found that many companies had been promoting their drugs for
uses not approved by the government."
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