Ominous television ads disguised as health alerts or public service announcements can be more than just a nuisance. That’s why lawmakers are stepping in to protect people against the ads’ misleading tactics and their potentially dangerous health consequences. 

In a victory for patient protections, a federal appellate court upheld a West Virginia law designed to put guardrails on unscrupulous “bad drug” advertising.

By Chloe Villavaso, MN, APRN, CNS

When I became an advanced practice nurse, I never thought I’d be competing with the television for my patient’s trust. Yet here I am.

By Frank Lavernia, MD

As one of the many physicians who has seen patients harmed by misleading television advertisements, I urge policymakers to make this the year they rein in “bad drug” ads.

“Bad drug” ads often target seniors with misinformation about prescription medications, with their scare tactics costing viewers their health – even their lives. Now the Federal Trade Commission is highlighting the importance of protecting consumers from questionable advertising practices.

By Mellanie True Hills

It starts with an ominous voice: “Warning!” Ambulance lights flash and pictures of people in distress fill the screen. These are a few of the telltale signs of a “bad drug” ad.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed more than 350 bills into law by the end of March, including one to curb misleading “1-800-bad-drug” ads. The new law provides important protections for patients in the mountain state.

For years, patients have been misled by “bad drug” ads that frighten them into abandoning their prescription medications. Now the Federal Trade Commission is speaking out.