Ban Big Pharma ads

After it was determined that cigarettes are a significant threat to human health, advertising by the tobacco industry on the public airways was finally banned in 1970. I believe a similar argument could be made regarding prescription drugs.

The opioid crisis we are now dealing with likely has a connection with pain-reducing prescription drugs strongly promoted by the pharmaceutical industry. No one is talking about the cost of advertising in relation to the high cost of prescription drugs, though there is much evidence to suggest that Big Pharma spends more there than on research and development.

Having said this, I have no illusions about the prospect for any legislative action being taken to rein in the out-of-control advertising on television. Big Pharma is a very powerful lobby. The industry has the financial clout it needs to prevent any legislation it may consider contrary to its interests.

However that may be, I believe it is in the best interest of society to ban prescription drug advertising from the public airways, as was done with the tobacco industry. Prescription drugs can be harmful and they are much too expensive. Decisions about their use should be made by professionals, not through manipulation and misleading advertising.

Miguel Melbin

Spokane