The article provides an analysis of the impact of prescription drugs on mortality, highlighting psychiatric drugs as the third leading cause of death in the United States. It examines the methodology used to assess drug-related deaths, citing underestimations due to limited study times and exclusions of many categories of deaths. Additionally, it discusses the adverse effects of various drug classes among older adults. The analysis emphasizes the preventable nature of many drug-related deaths and criticizes the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on drug regulation. It also challenges prevailing beliefs about the efficacy and safety of psychiatric drugs, arguing for a reassessment of their use.
Editor’s note: Given Peter Gøtzsche’s background as a Professor of Clinical Research Design and Analysis at the University of Copenhagen, as well as his co-founding of the Cochrane Collaboration, a respected independent medical research organization, his article on prescription drugs’ impact on mortality warrants serious consideration from everyone. Gøtzsche brings credibility to his assertions about the dangers of prescription drugs, particularly psychiatric medications.
His critique of the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on science and healthcare practices gives weight to scrutinizing drug safety and efficacy. This highlights the importance of ongoing scrutiny, transparency, and accountability by all citizens in response to big pharma, which we know has a giant clutch on world healthcare. [See also: Just how powerful is Big Pharma?]