Project 3

Serious adverse drug reactions cause about 100,000 deaths per year, making prescription drugs the fourth-leading cause of death in the country

Most pharmaceutical companies spend more money on marketing than on research

Gifts and monetary supplementation are offered to physicians by pharmaceutical companies

Purdue Pharma falsely claimed that OxyContin was less addictive, less subject to abuse and diversion, and less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms than other pain medications - all in an effort to maximize its profits

The number of deaths related to OxyContin increased fivefold from 1996 to 2001

Prescriptions for the drug increased 20-fold during the same period

In 1999, the FDA approved Vioxx, an anti-inflammatory drug, although a study showed that patients taking the drug faced twice the risk of heart attack compared to those taking a placebo

This drug was deemed safe by the FDA although it had been show to contribute to the number one leading cause of death in America

Darwish Fawaz, a pharmacist said, “Some doctors overprescribe medication as they get kickbacks from drug companies”

Michael Sangbo, a student of pharmacy, said “ [The] DSM-IV, a manual which doctors use to treat patients, is highly subjective”

Gurkirpal Gill, a medical doctor, said “Preventive methods, such as keeping an ideal weight, diet, and lifestyle, would decrease the need for prescriptions”

Some medications cure short-term disease, which can reoccur

Can only alleviate symptoms of chronic, long-term diseases

Do not cure disease in these cases, or even put disease into remission

Often cause side-effects

Can cure disease Puts disease into remission Minimal Side Effects

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune disorder caused by an infection

Causes chronic inflammation of the joints and organs

Use NSAIDs to reduce tissue inflammation, pain, and swelling

Therefore treats symptom of disease Side effects of treatment:

Abdominal painUlcersGastrointestinal bleeding

Outcome: Disease persists, but patient lives more

comfortably

Find infection source, usually due to a stressful event that causes a disruption in one’s bioelectrical circuits, which causes impairment in their immune system

Energy psychology techniques implemented: Tapping on meridians while thinking of a

negative emotion Side Effects:

none Outcome:

Disease goes into remission, indefinitely

Reduce health care costs Alleviate back pain with minimal side-

effects Improve heart conditions Eliminate asthma Put cancer into remission without side

effects Virtually cure Type II Diabetes

Getting involved in a community awareness project

Handing out flyers informing people about the dangers of prescription drugs

Conducting laboratory research with alternatives

Writing a letter to an FCC rep. asking for a ban to be put on the advertisement of prescription drugs

Writing a petition to congress to instate a program for more federal funding for drug education

Handing out flyers informing people about the dangers of prescription drugs

Entitled: “Preventing Teen Abuse of Prescription Drugs”

7 Sections:What is prescription drug abuse?How many teens are doing this?Why are some teens doing this?What are the risks?Where are teens getting these prescription

drugs?Are parents educating their children about

the risks of their behavior?What should parents do?

As seen, one cannot rely on the FDA or even many medical doctors to achieve optimal health

It is up to you to:Eat properlyExercise regularlySleep regularlyKeep strong emotional health