Newspaper stories about prescription drugs may mislead consumers, according to a study of Canadian newspapers.
The newspaper articles analyzed in the study often overemphasized the benefits of drugs and underemphasized the risks associated with taking them.
Moreover, only one in four studies provided quantified data regarding the benefits and risks of drugs, and of those that did, the data was "misleading" 26 percent of the time.
The study analyzed all articles, 193 in all, from the year 2000 written about Pfizer’s arthritis drug Celebrex and their cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor, Eli Lilly's osteoporosis drug Evista, Roche's influenza drug Tamiflu and Eisai's Alzheimer's disease drug Aricept.
According to the study, more than two-thirds of the articles neglected to mention any drug side effects, and when they did it was often not until the bottom half of the article. Further, only four percent of articles mentioned contraindications, and financial ties between drug manufacturers and testimonial sources were often not mentioned.
In the United States direct-to-consumer advertising is legal and may worsen the problem. According to researchers, biased or misleading information leads to overuse and inappropriate use of drugs.
The findings indicate that people need to be very skeptical in regard to what they hear from the media, which many people trust as a reliable source of information. Researchers suspect that other media outlets, such as television, would have similar issues with reporting misleading information.
The Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives February 2003
When many people pick up their morning paper they trust that the information inside is reliable and accurate. And in an ideal world, it would be, but unfortunately, biased information is so prevalent that we must rely on our own judgment to decipher between fact and fiction.
Don’t assume that a drug has no side effects just because none are listed, and don’t be persuaded by individual testimonials, which are often given by people with financial ties to the industry. Even "scientific" drug studies can be biased, as drug manufacturers are often the ones funding the studies.
Conflict of interest runs rampant in many ways where drug companies are concerned, so please be skeptical and always check out advertising claims and promotional lines before accepting them as truth.
If you want to further understand how corporations and government manipulate science and the media by preying upon the public trust--and you want to know how to protect yourself--I highly recommend the book Trust Us, We're Experts. It is truly one of those books that all Americans should read, and would make an important gift for any young adult who wants to maintain control over him or herself as they enter "the real world."
But, what is at the heart of the matter is that drugs are not a cure-all solution. True, there are times when drugs are necessary, but the fact is, drugs will often worsen your health by masking the underlying problem and fooling you into a false sense of health. Drugs can also interfere with your body’s natural ability to heal itself.
I have said this many times, but I will say it again: A nutritious diet, one that is free of sugars and most all grains, exercise and emotional wellness will do wonders for your health and well being above and beyond what any drug can offer you.
I discuss the importance of these things along with how to implement them in your life in my new book, The No-Grain Diet.
And, in the meantime, you can use this Web site as a starting point in your search for reliable health information. It is my vision and passion to provide the truth about health and wellness to anyone who wants it. You can use the site’s search feature to look through thousands of health-related articles and encourage your friends and family to sign up for our free e-newsletter to get reliable health information delivered directly.
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