In today’s generation, TVs are a large part of most people’s lives. TV has a purpose to entertain and inform – especially commercials. It seems that one of the most common commercial types is a prescription drug advertisement. It is not uncommon when within five minutes of watching TV, there are drug advertisements like Lipitor, Crestor, and Abilify, popping up on the screen. These commercials portray the Average Joe feeling happier while taking the drug. They appeal to human nature’s want of instant gratification and solution, which makes them appealing to certain viewers. DTC prescription drug advertising can help people seek medical attention and contribute to the comprehension of certain drugs. As well, they can fund research for more effective drugs. However, the credibility of the ads is questionable. They often mislead consumers, put safety at risk, and cause massive financial expenses, which are reasons why prescription drug ads should not be advertised directly to consumers. 

Many people view prescription drug ads as a benefit to society and those in need of medical attention. One cannot disregard that these DTC ads are a way for people to go get help for their medical conditions. It helps make them more comfortable with the discussion with their doctor. Nearly 64% of physicians that were surveyed in 2013 said that these ads helped people to contact a doctor (Meyer 2013).  Not only do they encourage people to seek medical attention, but they inform people, expanding the knowledge of certain drugs and risks. In 2007, 44% of patients surveyed said that prescription drug ads contributed to their understanding of drugs (Ashish 2011). This led to cases of medical conditions being treated that might have been left untreated. Lastly, these ads are a source of income for medical companies. Companies can take the opportunity to use the money to contribute to the research and development of new and more effective drug products in society (Procon.org).

Prescription drug ads indeed provide information about certain drugs; however, the credibility of the information provided is questionable. These ads tend to misinform patients, and make the drug seem suitable for the audience, even though it may not be suited for a specific viewer. 74% of surveyed physicians thought these ads were completely misleading patients (Meyer 2013). When consumers go to their doctor, thinking they have the exact symptoms the drug treats based on the information provided in the commercial, they could end up harming the rest of their body if it truly isn’t the right drug for the symptoms. This could lead up to serious health concerns. The FDA has constructed many surveys involving these ads and they show that doctors and physicians agree that there are both negative and positive effects to these ads. Nonetheless, in one particular survey, nearly 65% of doctors who were surveyed thought that these ads were confusing to patients. Indeed, consumers can be confused on the risks and dangers of taking the drug they view on their TV screen (FDA). Confusion is dangerous involving these ads because the patient may jump to conclusions about their symptoms and mislead the doctor into prescribing the wrong medication. The safety of consumers should be the number one priority when advertising any type of drug. In fact, some prescription drug advertisements do not guarantee the safety of the consumer before it airs on television (Procon.org). Therefore, not only are these ads misinforming consumers, but also are putting their safety at risk.

As a human being, safety is a concern high on our list of many priorities. However, another seemingly high concern in the modern world is money. The advertisements on television for prescription drug ads are encouraging money to be spent on drugs. The pharmaceutical market is vast and highly competitive. It is not to be forgotten that drug companies do make money off of these ads that could be put towards future benefits, nonetheless, it is questionable if their priority is truly on the consumer’s safety and well-being. Consumers usually pay more for these prescription drugs than a less expensive natural technique that could as easily cure symptoms (depending on the medical condition) (U.S. FDA). For every dollar spent, the retail value is approximated to go up $4.20 (Parnes 2009). The price for exactly one bottle can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars (Greene). For people with little money, who need the drugs, it can be devastatingly expensive. With these conflicts in mind, only two countries in the world allow prescription drug ads to be advertised directly to consumers: the United States and New Zealand (AMA 2014). These countries account for a whopping 42% of global prescription drug spending (Tyler 2013). Isn’t it a little disturbing that the U.S. and one other country are allowed to do this? It is alarming to even question why other countries across the globe haven’t allowed DTC prescription drug advertisements.
  Most people could argue prescription drug ads can have many benefits to modern society. They are the perfect resource to inform the public of certain medical conditions and help people in dire need of medical attention and treatment. Unfortunately, there are major flaws in the ads such as incorrect information, unguaranteed safety, and costly expenses. A way to ensure more safety for consumers would be to specifically allow only doctors to view the ads. This would reduce the confusion of patients and stimulate a more thorough examination of symptoms – instead of jumping to conclusions based on the ad. Another way to ensure more safety for the public is to incorporate more reliable and truthful information within the ads. Making the ads more realistic and credible could decrease unclear information confusing patients. All in all, unless the prescription drug ads are going to be made safer for the public audience, they should not be directly advertised to consumers.

Works Cited
• American Medical Association, "AMA History Timeline,” (accessed Mar. 21, 2014)
• Ashish Parekh, Roland Marcus, Melissa Roberts, and Dennis W. Raisch, "Risks and Benefits of Direct to Consumer Advertising on Patient-Provider Relationships,” Nov. 2011.
• Greene, Jeremy A. “Generic Drugs Kept Health Care Cheaper For 30 Years. Why Are Their Prices Surging?” N.p., n.d. Web. 19 May 2015.
• Meyer, Richard. "Majority of Physicians Believe DTC Ads Should Be Cut Back,” Apr. 30, 2013.
• Parnes B, Smith PC, Gilroy C, et al. Lack of impact to direct-to-consumer advertising on the physician – patient encounter in primary care: A SNOCAP report. Ann Fam Med. 2009. 
• “Prescription Drug Ads ProCon.Org.” ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.
• “The Impact Of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising.” The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015. (used as FDA).
• Tyler, Taylor. "Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads Should Be Scaled Back, Doctors Say,” June 3, 2013
• “U.S. Food And Drug Administration.” Keeping Watch Over Direct-to-Consumer Ads. N.p., n.d.      Web. 30 Apr. 2015. (used as U.S. FDA).