Big Pharma and the Hidden History of Addiction in America

White Market Drugs: Big Pharma and the Hidden History of Addiction in America

by Macallister Anderson

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3090 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	400 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

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The opioid epidemic in America has been devastating. Over 500,000 people have died from opioid overdoses since 1999, and the crisis shows no signs of abating. While many factors have contributed to this crisis, one of the most significant has been the role of Big Pharma.

Big Pharma is a term used to describe the large pharmaceutical companies that dominate the American drug market. These companies have enormous power and influence, and they have used it to promote the use of opioids for decades.

The history of Big Pharma's involvement in the opioid crisis goes back to the early 1990s. At that time, Purdue Pharma, a small pharmaceutical company based in Stamford, Connecticut, developed a new opioid painkiller called OxyContin. OxyContin was marketed as a safe and effective alternative to other opioids, and it quickly became one of the most prescribed drugs in America.

However, Purdue Pharma knew that OxyContin was more addictive than other opioids. In fact, the company's own research showed that OxyContin was more likely to lead to addiction and overdose than other opioids. But Purdue Pharma kept this information secret, and it continued to market OxyContin as a safe drug.

As a result of Purdue Pharma's deceptive marketing, OxyContin quickly became a major public health problem. By the mid-2000s, OxyContin was the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths in America.

Purdue Pharma was not the only pharmaceutical company that played a role in the opioid crisis. Other companies, such as Johnson & Johnson and Endo Pharmaceuticals, also marketed opioids aggressively. And just like Purdue Pharma, these companies knew that their drugs were addictive. But they kept this information secret, and they continued to market their drugs as safe.

The opioid crisis has had a devastating impact on America. It has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, and it has torn apart families and communities. And it is all because Big Pharma put profits before people.

The Historical Precedents of Big Pharma's Addiction Marketing

Big Pharma's involvement in the opioid crisis is not an isolated incident. In fact, the pharmaceutical industry has a long history of marketing addictive drugs.

In the early 1900s, pharmaceutical companies marketed heroin as a cough suppressant for children. Heroin was a highly addictive drug, but pharmaceutical companies claimed that it was safe and effective. As a result, heroin addiction became a major problem in America.

In the 1950s, pharmaceutical companies marketed tranquilizers as a way to treat anxiety and stress. Tranquilizers were also highly addictive, and they led to a major addiction problem in America.

In the 1990s, pharmaceutical companies marketed OxyContin as a safe and effective alternative to other opioids. OxyContin was more addictive than other opioids, but pharmaceutical companies kept this information secret. As a result, OxyContin quickly became a major public health problem.

Big Pharma's marketing of addictive drugs has had a devastating impact on America. It has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, and it has torn apart families and communities.

The Industry Practices That Fuel Addiction

Big Pharma uses a variety of industry practices to promote the use of addictive drugs. These practices include:

• Direct-to-consumer advertising: Big Pharma spends billions of dollars on direct-to-consumer advertising to promote its drugs. This advertising often portrays opioids as safe and effective, and it can lead people to believe that they need these drugs to feel better.
• Off-label marketing: Big Pharma often markets its drugs for uses that are not approved by the FDA. This is known as off-label marketing. Off-label marketing can lead people to use drugs for purposes that they are not safe or effective for.
• Payments to doctors: Big Pharma often pays doctors to prescribe its drugs. These payments can influence doctors' prescribing decisions, and they can lead to people being prescribed drugs that they do not need.
• Lobbying: Big Pharma spends millions of dollars on lobbying to influence government policy. This lobbying can lead to laws and regulations that are favorable to the pharmaceutical industry, and it can make it more difficult to hold Big Pharma accountable for its actions.

These industry practices have helped Big Pharma to create a market for addictive drugs. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have died from opioid overdoses, and millions more have become addicted to these drugs.

The Devastating Impact of Addiction on Communities

Addiction has a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities. People who are addicted to drugs often lose their jobs, their homes, and their families. They may also experience health problems, such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

Children who grow up in homes where drug addiction is present are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. They are also more likely to become addicted to drugs themselves.

Communities that are affected by drug addiction often see an increase in crime and violence. They may also see a decline in property values and a loss of businesses.

The opioid crisis has had a particularly devastating impact on rural communities. In these communities, drug addiction is often accompanied by poverty and unemployment. This can make it difficult for people to get the help they need to overcome addiction.

Big Pharma has played a major role in the opioid crisis in America. The industry's deceptive marketing practices, its aggressive lobbying, and its payments to doctors have all helped to create a market for addictive drugs. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have died from opioid overdoses, and millions more have become addicted to these drugs.

The opioid crisis is a public health emergency. It is time for Big Pharma to be held accountable for its role in this crisis. The industry must be forced to stop its deceptive marketing practices, its aggressive lobbying, and its payments to doctors. It must also be required to pay for the damage it has caused to individuals, families, and communities.

Only then will we be able to truly address the opioid crisis in America.

White Market Drugs: Big Pharma and the Hidden History of Addiction in America

by Macallister Anderson

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3090 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	400 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE