Margaret,
I missed these ads on my recent visit to the US, probably because my sister never turns on her television. And frankly, I’m glad I missed them; I am not amused. The ad that disturbed me the most is the ad for Abilify – which is an anti-psychotic drug. It is unconscionable to attempt to market these types of medications directly to patients. The pharmaceutical companies probably justify these ad compaigns by citing the patients’ right-to-know. (Sorry – I shouldn’t say “patient”, I should say “client”.) But how much can the average person, without a background in medicine, really understand how a medication work?
So far we haven’t fallen this low in Israel, but since we are always imitating the US, we probably will.
Regards,
Janet
Janet: The ads so upset me that I didn’t watch them on the article site. I’ve seen enough of them – in print and on tv – to have learned to look the other way. Laughter seems the best – only? – bet at this point, so I enjoyed the Jezebel piece.
My friend Al Frances is, however, fighting the good fight on the latest DSM. I do what I can to spread the word.
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:04AM
Margaret,
I missed these ads on my recent visit to the US, probably because my sister never turns on her television. And frankly, I’m glad I missed them; I am not amused. The ad that disturbed me the most is the ad for Abilify – which is an anti-psychotic drug. It is unconscionable to attempt to market these types of medications directly to patients. The pharmaceutical companies probably justify these ad compaigns by citing the patients’ right-to-know. (Sorry – I shouldn’t say “patient”, I should say “client”.) But how much can the average person, without a background in medicine, really understand how a medication work?
So far we haven’t fallen this low in Israel, but since we are always imitating the US, we probably will.
Regards,
Janet
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:29AM
Janet: The ads so upset me that I didn’t watch them on the article site. I’ve seen enough of them – in print and on tv – to have learned to look the other way. Laughter seems the best – only? – bet at this point, so I enjoyed the Jezebel piece.
My friend Al Frances is, however, fighting the good fight on the latest DSM. I do what I can to spread the word.
March 22nd, 2013 at 11:18AM
You’re not missing much, UD. On the odd occasions I get to see network TV any more, about 75% of the ads seem to be for pills.
March 22nd, 2013 at 6:03PM
Hmm. Depressed people are watching television. Direction of causation?
March 22nd, 2013 at 7:18PM
JND: Right. I don’t drive a car, and I don’t watch tv. And I’m a pretty jolly sort.