Dr. Janet steps up to her soapbox…

Street drugs kill about 20,000 people a year in North America but that is really no surprise. What is much more shocking is that prescription drugs kill about 700,000 people a year, making legal drugs the leading cause of death. As well, the side effects of legal drugs cause about 8.8 million hospitalizations annually, or 28% of all hospital admissions.  Prescription drugs and street drugs are both designed for symptom control. Despite what you may think, prescription drug product monographs or literature clearly state that “this drug does not cure.” They only take away the symptoms of the disease.

Pharmaceuticals, like street drugs, are intended to get addicts and patients hooked. Many drugs are addictive and some, like Ritalin, work through the same cellular receptor sites used by crack cocaine. At a marketing conference for the managers of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies in March 2004, one of the first overhead signs displayed read: “As a marketer: Which is better for business? Steady continuous use of your drug, or occasional use of your drug?” Nice.
Every class of drugs currently used to treat the symptoms of cancer, diabetes, heart and autoimmune diseases, depression, psychiatric disorders, etc. is currently under regulatory investigation and the subject of class action lawsuits involving tens of thousands of people.
Thirty years ago, the head of one of the world’s best-known drug companies did an interview with Fortune magazine. He was distressed that his company’s potential markets had been limited to sick people. Henry Gadsen, then CEO of Merck, admitted that it was his dream to make drugs for healthy people and sell to everyone. Congratulations Mr. Gadsen. Too bad you didn’t live long enough to see your dream become a reality. You have succeeded!

Source: Vitality Magazine and Selling Sickness, Ray Moynihan