Hey kids! You need to be on drugs!

[JoyeAustin]

How nice to see the ads for prescription drugs on the flash banners on Cafemom!

Oh wait, no it's not.

You know why I hate watching television? The prescription drugs ads. They are disgusting to me and they happen once every thirty-five seconds, in between automobile and Wal*Mart advertisements. We are a nation completely addicted to pharmaceutical medication, but because they are ordered by doctors and legal, everything's cool. I really think it's not so cool.

Many people have a legitimate need for meds to maintain quality of life and health, sure. But far too many people don't, and it's really sickening to think of the greed that passes freely between the FDA, insurance companies and Big Pharms. The government is not our friend when it comes to keeping dangerous legal drugs out of the hands of addicts. We see constant ads for medication like we can just go to the doctor and say, "Hey! I saw an ad for Dopex on tv and it looks great! The side affects are nauseating but I'm sure nothing too bad will happen or the government wouldn't let them put it out! Gimme!"

Our children are growing up believing they need a prescription to fix every little thing. Parents are being taught they need a prescription for every behavioral defect seen in their children. Are medications over-prescribed? You bet your doughnuts they are.

It irritates me to see these ads on Cafemom even. I can just imagine the sponsor incentive. Cafemom needs money to keep on truckin' just like any business, and the companies that specifically zone in on our demographics--women, mothers, families, special needs, food, children, school and health--are probably in an orgy of ecstasy over the direct access to their market target. I don't know why the recent allergy medication ad dismayed me so much, but it did. People who suffer from allergies have my sympathy... but it's the drug commercials that have my exasperation.

Pharms put a lot of money into keeping us all sick and on drugs. Wouldn't it be nice if that money was invested in something that taught everyone how to be healthy right from the start? Perhaps health care reform should aim towards creating a nation that puts drug companies off television and profits towards programs that teach people how to lead healthy lives.

[ironkitten]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:07 PM

They give us all those chemicals and we wonder why the rate of Autism and other ailments has increased!

Peace and Love

[aurorabunny]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I agree 100%.  I sometimes just laugh my butt off at the side effects that these commercials list...I swear, they're like "Do you breathe air?  Do you eat food?  That's a disease and you need this pill!"

[sapient]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:11 PM

Ugh, me too Joye. If people would eat healthy, watch their weight and stop smoking there would be so much less need for diabetes, heart disease, PAD medications. There goes a couple billion dollars a year for the pharma companies

[clarewillow]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:19 PM

I love you. We haven't had TV since they switched over to digital and while I miss the news I certainly don't miss the advertisements.  The kids do get to watch some TV at their daycare and I have had my daughter tell me how I should use slim-fast to stay skinny (Um NO I'll just eat healthy Thanks!) or whatever new drug is being pushed for ailments so that I don't get sick/fat/headaches. We were rarely given medication of any kind growing up and my kids seem to think that medication is the answer for everything.   

[mars33me]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:25 PM

So I take it you will not be asking your doctor if FluMist is right for your children??? 

[Pishyah]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 12:53 PM

I couldn't agree more.

[alex]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 1:09 PM

Well said momma!

Much Love

Alex

[used2chaos]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 1:14 PM

Well said, Joye.  I totally agree, we actually make a game out of making fun of the side effects of the drugs.  The kids get a kick out of it, and it teaches them to not believe everything they hear or see just because it's on T.V.

[ivansmom07]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 1:32 PM

Yup!

I had a conversation with a friend last week, she's trying to get me a job at her office (a medical office) and I told her 'hey, if I get hired: I'll buy you lunch!'.  She said 'if you get hired, you'll get lunch from the drug companies 3 times a week'.  That made me a little sick to my stomach.  I dare anyone to say doctors aren't in the pockets of these Big Pharm...

Wait.  So, yeah, great journal!

[DestMasters]

Aug. 31, 2009 at 1:53 PM

I do NOT like bigPharma nor do I agree with much of anything they tout.

I do, however, ♥ Joye and this post.