1.5 pages paper-strictly due in 3 hours.

The purpose of this position paper is to help you apply some of the concepts you've learned in this class to real life situations. You've probably noticed pharmaceutical advertisements on TV or on websites. Sometimes these ads make the viewer think the drugs do amazing and wonderful things for patients, some are silly, while others contain realistic, important information. The purpose of advertising these drugs during certain shows is to reach a particular patient demographic; Viagra commercials during NFL football games, Fortero commercials during the Academy Awards, Mirena commercials during Real Housewives of Beverly Hills...

The idea is that the viewer will see the wonderful new drug and run to his/her physician to ask for a prescription. These drug commercials reach consumers. Many people believe advertising prescription drugs is not a good thing. Read the articles and comments at these websites:

http://www.care2.com/causes/should-pharmaceutical-ads-be-banned-from-tv.html

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/should-prescription-drug-ads-be- reined-in/

http://io9.com/5853356/sick-of-pharmaceutical-ads-heres-why-they-wont-go-away

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278148/

https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm143562.htm

http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/87/8/09-040809/en/

What do YOU think?

Write a 2 page (minimum - feel free to write more!) position statement (see more about "position statements/papers" below) on the topic of D2C (Direct to Consumer) Pharmaceutical Advertising. Spend some time watching TV ads and note why you agree or disagree with drug advertisements. Do you think these ads promote healthy consumer awareness? Do you think these ads mislead the public about the benefits and costs (physical and financial) associated with taking the drugs? Do you think the drug companies have a moral responsibility to propose alternatives to taking the drug?

Should drug companies have to pay for healthy lifestyle ads so they have the privilege of advertising prescription medications directly to the public?

These are some questions I'd like you to consider in your paper. There are many more issues and reasons why these ads are good or bad for our society. Take a stand on this issue, and provide reasons (examples based on actual advertisements and/or internet research) why you agree or disagree with D2C drug advertising.

2 page minimum (longer is okay)

1.5 line spacing, 1" margins, 12 point font

Must be typewritten

Submit it as an attachment to this assignment in Word (.doc).

What is a "position statement/paper?" Some help from resources online:

http://www.xavier.edu/library/students/documents/position_paper.pdf

http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr9.htm

http://www.sfu.ca/cmns/130d1/WritingaPositionPaper.htm

In this assignment, I expect you to take a position either FOR or AGAINST D2C Drug Advertisements, then provide a rationale based on your readings on the subject and your research about the drug or drugs that led to you taking this position.

The paper should be YOUR opinion based on your readings. Be sure if you take information directly from another source, you properly cite that information. Help regarding citation of information is available at the Montgomery College Libraries website: http://libguides.montgomerycollege.edu/content.php?pid=12164&sid=81725