The other day I caught a commercial for the product Children's Claritin that really bothered me. It's not like I haven't seen drug companies marketing towards kids before; who hasn't at some point got that wonderful jingle "10 million strong...and growing" stuck in their head from the Flintstones vitamins commercials, and I certainly feel as thought I have seen plenty of commercials lately advertising a better tasting cough syrup, or a dissolving strip of medication meant to replace the trauma of swallowing a pill or spoonful of goo in your formative years.
No, what made this commercial different was the way it marketed its product. The commercial puts a young, aspriring skateboarder in the oh-so-clever, allergy-induced fog that you will be in if you have neglected to take Claritin. This blurry veil of perception is magically stripped away by the Children's Claritin, and our young protagonist is suddenly Tony Hawk circa 1980: skatin' up a storm and livin' the good life.
There are three beefs I have with this commercial spot. First off, this commercial is not marketing the taste or the ease of this medication; instead, it is marketing the disease and the symptoms that come with it. Next thing you know, every kid who sneezes when he is trying to ollie is going to claim that he has an allergy problem. Secondly, if memory serves, this thing is shot from the child's point of view rather than catering to the parent's concerns for their child's symptoms. Lastly, this commercial definitely suggests, in the same way so many adult pharmaceutical commercials do, that this product will enhace your abilities and general joy in life.
Don't we have enough adults that are trying to play doctor by inquiring about drugs that are being piped into their consciousness alongside images of cool sneakers, delicious food and awesome cars? Where are the good ole days when all kids wanted were toys and gimmicky snacks for their bag lunch?
Same to same,
Capt. Pat Hendry
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Life is better with drugs...didn't you know? The thing that gets me is the side effects are usually the same as what the drug is trying to prevent. Next time one of thsoe brainwashing commercials comes on listen closely to the side effects and you'll be left scratching your head saying, "isn't it supposed to prevent that?" Hello, antidepresants that are causing people to kill themselves.
Now I think they are creating illnesses just so they can sell the drugs to treat them. Restless Leg Syndrome...what's that sh*t? Go get some excercise.
You make a perfect point Ben, half the time you don't even know what the drug is supposed to be for..."So I take this pill and I'll look pretty in my wonderful flowing purple dress while I walk on the cliffs." Let's make sure we don't all fall off...down with perscription drug marketing that does nothing by drive up the costs.
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