Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4499

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Cotts C.
The pushers in the suites
The Nation 1992 Aug-Sep 31-7208, 210-211

Abstract:

Drug companies are increasingly using patient organizations to help promote their products. Upjohn has given money to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America to help promote Xanax for panic attacks and last year it bankrolled an ADAA opinion poll about panic. Upjohn also advertised heavily at the American Psychiatric Association’s annual meeting and in 1989 gave the APA a $1.5 million “unrestricted” grant to produce educational videos about panic, anxiety and depression. When there are no legitimate patient groups, public relations companies will invent them.

Keywords:
*feature story/United States/ patient groups/ public relations firms/ Upjohn/Xanax// Anxiety Disorder Association of America/ corporate funding/PROMOTION BY THIRD PARTIES: PATIENT ORGANIZATIONS/SPONSORSHIP: PATIENT AND CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS