PRESCRIPTION DRUGS JUST AS DANGEROUS AS ILLICIT SUBSTANCES

Last week, I saw two commercial ads on television one right after
another that summed up the American drug problem.

The first commercial was a public service ad trying to convince people
who buy illicit drugs that they are helping to fund terrorism.
Terrorism, apparently, defined broadly and passively as the killing of
innocent civilians for political and commercial gain.

Next was an ad for one of the popular designer prescriptions.

Whoever the commercial scheduler is on that network, there is a person
with a delightfully dark sense of humor.

Of the current crop of irritating public service ads that attempt to
shame people into just saying no to various popular consciousness-
altering substances, the one that links the buying of illicit drugs
from cartels to the funding of terrorists is the silliest.

There are -- at least -- two better reasons why we should not use
them. Most of these substances are bad for physical and mental health.
Buying these substances is wasting money that could be used in better
ways to promote health.

The prescription drug companies are certainly also cartels. I have
heard pharmacists admit as much.

They both produce products that alter mood, consciousness and
states.

They both use the money they collect to buy influence in
governments.

They both have the goal of getting people addicted to their products
and then charging exorbitant rates. In spite of all the pharmaceutical
public relations boo-bah about costs of research and development, it
is hard to interpret the pricing structure of prescriptions in the
United States in any other light.

It's January again. Lobbyists descend on capitol hills in both Salt
Lake City and Washington to flatter legislators into allotting more
money to buy more drugs to make us more healthy. Other lobbyists urge
them to assign more funds for the war on drugs.

We would encourage legislators to promote health.

Allopathic doctors can treat many problems well, but they can't treat
all problems. The so-called alternative doctors and therapists can
treat many problems successfully, too, but they can't treat all
problems. Some doctors in both camps are certainly too willing to
indulge our human tastes for mood- and consciousness-altering substances.

So what do the people need?

It is true that some substances can help us feel better; some can cure
disease. However, we need legislators who will encourage all types of
good health practices.

Health care is more than just paying for pills.

Rick Soulier teaches English composition at Utah Valley State College.
His column appears Fridays.