These days, we're swamped with ads for prescription drugs that are
supposed to make us feel happier, sleep better and enhance our sex
lives.
The ads may seem ridiculous at times, with people prancing through
fields of flowers, looking healed and nearly ecstatic.
But the ads have a darker side, too. When Merck spent over $300 million
to advertise its drug Vioxx, it created huge demand for the drug, which
in turn led to as many as 140,000 heart attacks and strokes in the
U.S., and 60,000 deaths.
We can't let tragedies like that ever happen again.
So, today, we're launching a new website, www.StopDrugAds.org. The
purpose of the website is to educate the public about the dangers of
prescription drug ads, and to mobilize thousands of Americans to voice
their opposition to the ads.
Drug executives are not qualified to tell you what drugs to buy. They
should not be allowed to meddle in your personal health care decisions.
After all, they don't even know you. It's like practicing
medicine without a license.
Please take a minute to visit StopDrugAds.org, and send comments to the
FDA. Tell them to end prescription drug advertising in the United
States.