Editorial: What others are teaching our children!

There is an advertisement on television currently showing a leading laundry soap (starts with a "T" and ends with an "e") that is sending the wrong message to children (and adults). The ad starts with a daughter asking her mother about her "green blouse" that she wants to wear and cannot find. The mother says she doesn't know where it is. After the daughter leaves, the mother rushes to the laundry basket to retrieve the green blouse with a flashback of where she recently wore it and spilled something on it resulting in a stain. The mother then uses the T..e, the blouse comes clean, and she then places the blouse in the daughter's closet. Next, the daughter is shown walking by wearing the blouse and stating that she must have overlooked it but has now found it.

The message the sponsor is hoping to convey is that T..e can remove stains from clothes. But, a second and even more profound message is that "it is okay to lie and deceive your children!"

How can parents, grandparents, and others responsible for raising children counter advertisements like this? One approach is to point out the problem with the advertisement and why it is a problem. Next, explain that lying and deceit should not occur between parents and children, or between anyone. Pointing these issues out at the time of occurrence can help to form stronger bonds between children and their parents. It is sufficiently difficult to tease out the misrepresentations for products in advertisements without having to also counter the wrong messages of human behavior they present to society.


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief

Weight-loss Drug Meridia Pulled Because of Increased Risk for Heart Attack and Stroke
Meridia has been withdrawn from the U.S. market because of an increased risk of heart attack and stroke according to the FDA. Abbott Laboratories voluntarily agreed to pull the drug after an FDA review of data that showed a 16 percent increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and death among people taking Meridia (sibutramine), compared with those taking a placebo.

In addition to the finding of an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, the review trial, called the Sibutramine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (SCOUT), found only a small difference in weight loss among those taking the drug and those receiving a placebo.

Meridia was approved in November 1997 for weight loss and maintenance of weight loss in obese people and in overweight people with other risks for heart disease. The approval was based on studies showing that about twice as many people taking Meridia lost at least 5 percent of their body weight compared with people taking a placebo who used diet and exercise alone to lose weight.

When approved, the FDA did have safety concerns because Meridia was known to increase both blood pressure and heart rate but believed at the time that the benefit of losing weight outweighed the risk of increased blood pressure and heart rate.
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/644146.html?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5

Drugmaker CEOs May Be Targets for FDA in Off-label Cases
Pharmaceutical executives whose companies promote unauthorized uses of their medicines may be targeted by the FDA for misdemeanor prosecutions. Pfizer struck the largest off-label promotion settlement to date in September 2009 agreeing to pay $2.3 billion for unauthorized marketing of its recalled painkiller Bextra and three other drugs.

The government may try to show more resolve to criminally charge individuals at all levels in the company to make progress in deterring off-label promotion. Executives would face as much as $100,000 fines and one year in jail. The FDA also can bar individuals from working in the drug industry.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-14/drugmaker-executives-may-become-targets-of-fda-for-off-label-promotions.html

FDA Warns of Thigh Fractures with Bone Drugs
Osteoporosis drugs used by millions of women to prevent bones from breaking may increase the chances for an unusual type of thigh fracture. The drugs include the bisphosphonates Fosamax, Boniva, Reclast, and Actonel. This could drive patients to Amgen Inc.'s just-launched rival medicine, Prolia, a different type of osteoporosis drug that is the company's most important future growth driver.

FDA officials said all bisphosphonates used for osteoporosis will carry a new warning about rare but serious fractures of the thigh bone, even though it remains unclear if the medicines caused the fractures. In 2009, there were more than 5 million U.S. filled prescriptions for bisphosphonates.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69C67N20101013

The Pharmacist in Public Health: Education, Applications and Opportunities
American Pharmacists Association; August 2010
537 Pages, Hardcover, Price $53

The Foreword to this new book sets the stage for what follows: "There are many opportunities for pharmacists in public health. Whether pursuing further training in public health or providing patient-centered care or population-based interventions in community pharmacies, ambulatory clinics, health systems, managed care organizations, or industry, pharmacists are well suited to participate in a wide variety of micro- and macro-level public health activities."

With 59 contributors and 40 reviewers, this book represents a lot of information and experiences. Divided into four sections and 22 peer-reviewed chapters, it is a great resource. The four sections include (1) Reviewing: Pharmacy in Public Health, (2) Integrating: Pharmacist's Role in Public Health, (3) Developing: Public Health Pharmacists, and (4) Educating and Serving: Pharmacy in Public Health.

This is a very good read for those desiring to see a "larger picture" of the importance of pharmacy in public health.

�there are two sets of states with both North xxx and South xxx in their names but NO sets of states with East and West in their names?

Brushing Up
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