Funding from direct-to-consumer (DTC) “ask your doctor” drug promotions has profoundly impacted news media coverage, overshadowing critical health issues such as:

1. **Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):**
Hormone replacement therapy is making a comeback in the market despite its prior health risks, which include elevated chances of breast cancer, heart attacks, and strokes. Ongoing debates include the potential removal of cancer warnings on HRT medications, raising alarms about re-pathologizing menopause for pharmaceutical profit.

2. **Obesity Pills:**
The demand for GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, has intensified as a convenient solution for obesity, despite their steep costs and side effects like eye disorders and hair loss. This shift could result in higher healthcare premiums and tax implications, along with emerging health concerns.

3. **SSRI Antidepressants:**
SSRIs such as Prozac are under examination for possible associations with suicide, bone fractures, and birth defects, even though they have been long-established prescriptions for mental health issues. Worries regarding overprescription and the discredited “chemical imbalance” theory remain largely ignored.

4. **ADHD Medicines:**
Stimulant medications for ADHD, which impact saliva production, may contribute to greater tooth decay among children—a concern previously underscored by the detrimental history of bone medications like bisphosphonates.

5. **Manufactured Diseases:**
Pharmaceutical advertising often brings obscure diseases to light, prompting unnecessary treatments and generating new consumer segments. This includes broadening diagnostic criteria for issues like ADHD and addiction, endorsing costly medications while neglecting authentic health education.

The pharmaceutical industry seemingly flourishes by perpetuating a cycle of illness and reliance, as healthy individuals do not drive demand. Vigilance and skepticism towards pharmaceutical advertising can act as safeguards against this deceptive narrative.