TV ads shouldn’t include propaganda from pharmaceutical companies

Editor:

Drug ads should be removed from television. Almost every other commercial on TV is an advertisement for a new drug.

The integrity of drug ads has long been questioned. The only two countries in the world that allow drug ads on television are the United States and New Zealand.

Other countries such as the U.K., France and Germany have banned them due to high pharmaceutical spending and negative health outcomes. Additionally, the advertising companies that create the pharmaceutical ads are only required to state at least one approved use for a drug, the generic name of the drug, and any potential side effects.

Therefore, advertisers can leave out the cost, how the drug works, and whether a condition is treatable with a change in behavior.

Drug ads also cause distrust in doctors. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine conducted a survey of 1,744 adults, which found that 16% of the adults questioned their doctor’s advice after asking for a drug and could not receive it. This can cause people to stop visiting their doctor, which may cause more health issues.

Pharmaceutical ads have a negative impact on the public and should not be legal in the United States. We must speak to our representatives and advocate for the removal of drug ads on TV.

Sarah Kelly

Holley High School student

Editor’s note: Nick D’Amuro, Holley social studies teacher, said the student essay is completed by a student seeking the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset, and civic experiences.

The Holley Central School District is an institution that offers students the opportunity to earn this designation on their diploma upon graduation. Students must complete a variety of tasks surrounding a particular research topic that is of interest to them.  A crucial element of this project requires students to inform citizens in their community about their topic and call for citizens to take action. This article serves as the basis for this requirement, D’Amuro said.