December 15, 2013

Developing Cures or Hyping Up Demand?

Debaters

Consumer Drug Advertising Should Be Banned

Kurt C. Stange, Case Western Reserve University
Regulation Can Make Drug Ads More Useful

Julie M. Donohue, University of Pittsburgh
Companies Should Have No Role in Testing

Marcia Angell, Author, "The Truth About the Drug Companies"
Drug Test Results Matter More Than Funding

Ruth Hughes, ADHD advocate
Unbiased Review and Communication Are Needed

Jerry Avorn, Author, "Powerful Medicines"
A Matter of Collaboration, Not Influence

John J. Castellani, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Improve Health Literacy

Richard H. Carmona, Former surgeon general

Introduction

An advertisement for the A.D.H.D drug Adderall XR.

From the laboratory to the medicine cabinet, drug companies have played a role in each stage of the development, testing, marketing and prescription of drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some have said that role, with A.D.H.D. drugs and others, has been too great, driving up demand and use beyond what is medically sensible.

Can drug companies’ influence over treatments for medical conditions like A.D.H.D. be reduced?

Read the Discussion »