Give us this day our daily meds

Our Daily Meds: How the Pharmaceutical Companies Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machines and Hooked the Nation on Prescription Drugs by Melody Petersen


In the period (1980-2003) when Americans doubled what they spent on cars they increased their spending on prescription drugs by 17 times.Big pharmaceutical companies have transformed themselves into marketing machines, selling drugs as they were peddling soft drinks or cars. They sell drugs with video games and soft cuddly toys for children; advertise them in churches, subways, NASCAR races, and state fairs. Americans spent $250 billion in 2005 on prescription drugs more than the combined gross domestic product of Argentina and Peru. In 2004, Americans spent more on prescription drugs than on fast food or gas. In that same year their prescription drug bill was twice what they spent on higher education or new cars. In 2006 the average American collected more than 12 prescriptions.