Reform TV drug advertising

Last fall you helped us pass real reform to our nation's drug safety system. The FDA has more authority and can act more quickly to get dangerous drugs off the market.

But the FDA can't act on problems it doesn't know about. And most Americans suffering serious side effects from prescription drugs don't know they can report their experience directly to the agency.

But we can turn TV drug ads from a problem to a solution.

Whatever else you may think about the steady barrage of drug ads on TV, they can become an effective way to connect the FDA with the public.

Millions of people see an ad on TV, go to their doctor, and ask for a new drug. The FDA has a special toll-free number and website to report drug side effects, but few know about it. So, let's provide the FDA's 1-800 number and website in every TV drug ad.

This is a good idea proposed by one of you, and we're jumping on it.

We hope to send 50,000 signatures to the FDA at the end of the month.

The drug companies don't like this idea. They know that most people see drug ads on TV. And when they suffer a side effect, those TV ads can become the most effective way to let the FDA know there’s a problem. That's why the FDA needs to hear from you.

So take a moment to sign our petition, and ask your friends and family to do the same.


https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=Rx_Drug_Ads_Petition


Sincerely,
Liz Foley
PrescriptionForChange.org
A project of Consumers Union
101 Truman Ave.
Yonkers, NY 10703