Prescription Drug Addiction Blog

An article appearing in Reuters this week spoke about the 5.1 percent increase in U.S. prescription drug sales last year vs. the 1.8 percent increase in 2008, and that antipsychotic drugs were the top money makers.

This story appeared the same week as a mention in the New York Times regarding the disclosure that Pfizer paid out $20 million to 4,500 doctors and other medical professionals for consulting and speaking on its behalf in the last six months of 2009. The article also states that Pfizer paid an additional $15.3 million to 250 academic medical centers and other research groups for clinical trials in the same period. The disclosure was one of the results of agreement to settle investigations into Pfizer's illegal promotion of off-label uses for drugs.

Remember, this is only from ONE company. Most of them use these tactics to gain favor and push sales. Coupled with the $26 million spent on pharmaceutical lobbying efforts last year and the copious amounts of direct-to-consumer advertising, and it's no wonder that sales hit an all-time high. As long as these companies are able to buy their way out of jail, these practices will also continue.

Drug rehab centers are filled with people addicted to prescription drugs today, and prescription-related deaths are reaching all-time highs in multiple states throughout the country, yet the FDA continues to be held unaccountable the the drug cartels that sell their wares in bottles with labels keep getting away with it.

If you know someone who needs help overcoming a dependency on prescription drugs, call 1-800-516-7029 today.