Opinion: America's new drug war

12/5/04What was slap bracelets and L.A Gear to children of the '90s, is antidepressants and Riddilin to children of the new millennium.

A study released by the federal government on December 3 revealed that the use of prescription drugs by Americans, including children, has skyrocketed within the last decade; 44 percent of all Americans are currently taking at least one prescription drug a day. One out of every ten women is taking an antidepressant and nearly a third of all doctors' visits by women are for antidepressants. Children have been specifically targeted in the industry, where antidepressant use has nearly tripled since 1996. Almost one out of every seven boys is taking a stimulant drug, which is used to treat attention deficit disorder.

Those in the medical industry attribute the increase to better medicines with better diagnosis, but opponents claim that this is a result of a profit-driven society which encourages consumers to purchase before they have adequate information.

After the Food and Drug Administration approves drugs research continues to test for long-term effects. Recent research has proven some antidepressants that were heavily marketed by physicians to children in order to relieve depression can now cause suicidal tendencies. The drug Vioxx, a prescription believed to lower cholesterol, was recently pulled off the market for fear of causing heart attacks and strokes. Outgoing Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson spoke of bringing in an independent agency to review drugs that the FDA approves, something which the American Medical Association also suggested. President Bush initially opposed the creation of an advisory board, but is said now to be reconsidering. This could curb the overwhelming problem Americans are now faced with: whether the pill that is supposed to improve their lives may be the reason for their demise.

Drug companies spent 3.3 billion on marketing last year, which led to over 91 percent of Americans viewing drug advertisements on television. Ads which have marketing techniques that immediately ask consumers whether they feel tired, anxious or have frequent mood swings, entice average Americans into thinking that this wonder drug could be the answer to all of their problems. Although, these ads prescribe a drug to the consumer before they have been diagnosed with an ailment by a licensed doctor.

Americans are not receiving the entire story when they are being asked to take these wonder drugs. Because of a 1992 law, drug companies are required to pay a fee to the FDA which is used to speed up the approval process, enabling the drug to reach the market sooner. Speeding up the process does not allow Americans to make intelligent decisions about their health. Just last month, David Graham, associate director of the FDA's Office of Drug Safety, testified before Congress that five drugs currently on the market are putting Americans at risk of harmful side effects.

Finally, it has also been reported that more than 50 percent of members in the FDA's advisory boards are directly linked to the financial interests of the drugs they are reviewing. In short, members of the FDA are not only regulating the drugs Americans can use, but seem to also be balancing their checkbooks.

The government should take the advice of the American Medical Association and Mr. Thompson. The FDA can not legitimately and objectively research drugs they have already approved, which reveals the need to bring in an independent group to study these drugs. If this program is not considered by the Administration a drug that was supposed to control your child's depression, may lead him or her to make a much more lethal decision.