Frontline Season 7 Episode 9 Prescriptions for Profit

Prescriptions for Profit is an investigative documentary from Frontline, the prestigious news magazine show that has reviewed current affairs in the US and worldwide since 1983. The episode focuses on the rise of drug companies and their deep-rooted connections with politicians and government regulatory agencies. The documentary investigates whether the power and money wielded by big pharmaceutical companies have led to the epidemic of prescription drug addiction seen in America today.

Frontline correspondent, Hedrick Smith, starts the episode by underlining that America has always been a nation where capitalism is celebrated, and the drug industry is no exception. The industry has seen extraordinary growth over the last two decades, but in the same time period, America has also witnessed an increase in drug addiction, overdoses, and widespread abuse. This episode dives into the connection between the two.

Smith conducts numerous interviews with whistleblowers, drug researchers, and ex-regulators to explore how the government's watchdog that regulates the pharmaceutical industry, FDA, operates. He sheds light on the lax regulations and the revolving doors that keep swinging between the FDA and drug companies within the industry.

Prescription drug addiction is one of the most severe issues troubling America today, and this episode explores the reasons why. Smith reveals how and why pharmaceutical companies have been pushing to get more of their drugs in the market, even in cases where they are not safe for public use. He emphasizes that the pressure to keep the stock price high led to drug companies taking shortcuts and indulging in nefarious activity.

The documentary reveals the deceptive tactics that drug companies employ to make their drugs seem safe for public consumption. One example is the deceptive marketing of OxyContin as a pain medication that resulted in thousands of lives lost to addiction.

The episode also explores the idea of "off-label" marketing, a strategy in which drug companies market their products for medical conditions that have not been approved by the FDA. Smith uncovers how drug companies routinely pay doctors to distribute their drugs in ways that have harmful consequences. This prioritization of profits over public safety is one of the devastating effects of the widespread corruption in the pharmaceutical industry.

Another aspect of profit-making undertaken by the drug industry is to expand the usage of existing drugs. The episode examines how drug companies engage in a practice known as "evergreening," in which they make insignificant changes to a drug, allowing them to keep it under patent for a longer time.

Prescriptions for Profit also delves into one of the most crucial aspects of the drug industry: the influence of lobbying. The documentary shows how the pharmaceutical companies' power over politicians has led to lax regulations and little accountability. Smith also investigates how politicians who receive funding from drug companies turn a blind eye on the ethical dilemmas that plague the industry.

In conclusion, Prescriptions for Profit illuminates the hidden, narcissistic and unethical practices of the drug industry that have lead to widespread prescription drug addiction. Through its thorough and extensive examination, the episode urges viewers to demand accountability from drug companies and the FDA, the regulating body that they operate under.