Drug Advertising
ByIf you watch any television at all, you have seen plenty of advertising for a host of different drugs. I just viewed one myself. Here’s the basic structure of the adds.
First, tell everyone how great your drug is and how it will solve all your problems (more or less).
Second, speak really fast as you tell the world all the possible side effects that could be yours if you take the drugs.
Third, spend a few more seconds trying to negate all that you said really fast and leave the world with a big smile.
That really is a fair summary of almost all of them. Having said that, may I ask, do you listen carefully to the fast talking and/or read the fine print? If you do, will you actually seriously ask your doctor about the drug?
I’m serious. After all, the commercial I just saw mentioned suicidal thoughts. And severe depression. And a host of other big and small things. I have to think that would lead most people to steer clear of whatever drug the pretty person is pushing.
And yet, the ads keep coming. So that leads me to believe that they are effective enough to justify their cost. What then does that say about us?
2 Comments
December 7th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
You’d be amazed by how many people think that the drug d’jour will cure all their ailments and how effective those advertisements are! It’s stunning to me anyway. I think it speaks to a couple of problems– some (a lot of) people want a quick fix instead of looking at prevention (documented in studies) and there are a lot of people who see such commercials, believe they have an ailment, and then demand the drug even if they don’t need it (purely speculation on my part, but I believe I also read some research on this as well).
December 7th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
The quick fix is for sure…I am certainly tempted to it at times. After all, prevention can be tough work!