The Use and Availability of Drugs in America - Research Paper Example

Califano notes that marketing is so aggressive and the pace of new drug approval so fast and furious that the American medical association has called for a moratorium on direct to consumer advertisements in order to give doctors an opportunity to learn about new drugs before patients demand prescriptions to ease their pain, bend their minds, or sleep through the night (2007, p.3). Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is a leading cause of drug misuse. The expenditure on direct to consumer advertising has been on a steady rise (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2000). The influence of drug advertisements is on the rise too. A survey conducted in 2004 showed that doctors believed that direct to consumer advertisements affected how they interacted with patients and in their profession.

Previously, drug manufacturers used to promote their drugs only to professionals in the health care sector so that they can explain how the drug works to their patients. The trend changed in the early 1990s and manufacturers changed their focus to consumers. Advertisements targeting consumers began to emerge. Marketing led to increasing in spending on prescription drugs as patients began following up on their healthcare. This led to another problem as patients began demanding drugs they had seen on advertisements from their physicians.

Due to this, manufacturers intensified their ad strategies in order to benefit from high sales. Some companies are suspected to be giving misleading information about their products. Some exaggerate the ability of their products to treat certain ailments or how fast they can cure a person once taken. It is for this reason that proper guidelines should be set on how companies advertise their drugs. One of the ways may be to require that any drug advertised should include a list of any likely side effects.

Drugs advertised should also not be allowed to describe what they do. Drugs should also be properly labelled in accordance with the set guidelines. Emotional style advertising should be prohibited as it misleads buyers. Other strategies like raising the legal drinking age may help reduce accessibility to alcohol by young people. Clear warning labels should also be placed on alcohol and cigarettes to warn consumers of the side effects.

The effect of drug abuse cannot be overstated. First, there are increased cases of accidents due to drug abuse. People have also been reported to die due to drug overdose. The spread of HIV and AIDS has risen due to the issue of drug abuse. This is common among sexual partners and those who share needles. Maternal drug abuse has been known to result in birth defects and high rates of infant mortality. Also, children born by drug-abusing mothers are 2.5 times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome than ordinary children. Sexually transmitted diseases are also rampant among drug abusers. Drug-related homicides are a common phenomenon among drug abusers. It has been noted that a large percentage of crimes reported are usually due to drug abuse. Some of the addicts commit crimes in order to continue supporting their drug habits. It has been noted that most people in correctional centres’ have a history of drug abuse. Another result of drug abuse is the decrease in the work productivity of the abusers. Rehabilitation of addicts costs the country a lot of money that could otherwise have been used for other development purposes.

The drug problem has affected every bracket of the population. Califano mentions many celebrities, political figures and influential persons that have fallen victim to drugs. Children as young as nine and even the elderly have not been spared. Sports personalities, famous musicians such as Elvis Presley have had their careers cut short due to drug misuse problems. Role models have also at times fallen prey to this pandemic. As such, it can be seen that no one is prone to be affected.

Government should play a crucial role in ensuring that drug abuse is reduced as much as possible. Legislation should be made on direct consumer advertising to control the level and manner of advertisements. The government through its agencies such as the FDA should ensure that advertisements give true information. Companies that do not adhere to the set guidelines should be banned from advertising their products permanently. The authority to impose civil penalties for false and misleading ads that were given to the FDA will be an appropriate step to curb such vices.

The National Advertising Division (NAD), which is the major regulator for advertising should be more vigilant in its work and ensure the rules of advertising are followed to the letter. Institutions should be directed to adopt procedures to detect early substance abuse so as to prompt early treatment of such cases. Drug testing should also be conducted severally so as to ensure that any substance abuse is detected. The threat of job loss for repeat offenders when it comes to drug abuse may also help reduce cases of drug abuse.