Are Pharmaceutical Companies Selling Sickness?

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Millions of Americans are using a rising number of prescription drugs for conditions ranging from teenage shyness to menopause. In 1993, the average number of annual prescriptions per person was seven; in 2004, it was 12--and growing. Once, we were grateful for a prescription to soothe a migraine headache or extreme stomach flu. Now, our medicine cabinets are bulging with pills for everything from erectile dysfunction and menopause to insomnia, indigestion, high cholesterol, anxiety and restless leg syndrome--and pharmaceutical companies are spending billions to persuade doctors to prescribe them and us to take them. Some critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has created a culture of desire for drugs we don't need. On the eve of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, guest host Diana Nyad talks about the selling of sickness.Making News: Enron's Causey Agrees to Pleas GuiltyOne of three former officers of Enron, scheduled to stand trial in two weeks, struck a plea bargain with prosecutors in Houston yesterday. Former Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey will give up information to strengthen the case against former colleagues Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. The Wall Street Journal's John Emshwiller, author of a recent book on the Enron scandal, has more on the continuing saga of the energy giant.Reporter's Notebook: What's Next for Diebold?Diebold first made national headlines when its CEO wrote a fundraising letter promising to deliver the votes of Ohio to President Bush in last year's presidential election. That raised eyebrows sky high, because Ohio uses Diebold machines. Earlier this month, Walden O'Dell resigned after two class-action lawsuits, charges of insider trading and discovery by a Florida county that Diebold's machines can be hacked to change votes. Warren Olney speaks with Julie Carr Smyth, who covers politics for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Millions of Americans are using a rising number of prescription drugs for conditions ranging from teenage shyness to menopause. In 1993, the average number of annual prescriptions per person was seven; in 2004, it was 12--and growing. Once, we were grateful for a prescription to soothe a migraine headache or extreme stomach flu. Now, our medicine cabinets are bulging with pills for everything from erectile dysfunction and menopause to insomnia, indigestion, high cholesterol, anxiety and restless leg syndrome--and pharmaceutical companies are spending billions to persuade doctors to prescribe them and us to take them. Some critics argue that the pharmaceutical industry has created a culture of desire for drugs we don't need. On the eve of the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, guest host Diana Nyad talks about the selling of sickness.
  • Making News: Enron's Causey Agrees to Pleas Guilty
    One of three former officers of Enron, scheduled to stand trial in two weeks, struck a plea bargain with prosecutors in Houston yesterday. Former Chief Accounting Officer Richard Causey will give up information to strengthen the case against former colleagues Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling. The Wall Street Journal's John Emshwiller, author of a recent book on the Enron scandal, has more on the continuing saga of the energy giant.
  • Reporter's Notebook: What's Next for Diebold?
    Diebold first made national headlines when its CEO wrote a fundraising letter promising to deliver the votes of Ohio to President Bush in last year's presidential election. That raised eyebrows sky high, because Ohio uses Diebold machines. Earlier this month, Walden O'Dell resigned after two class-action lawsuits, charges of insider trading and discovery by a Florida county that Diebold's machines can be hacked to change votes. Warren Olney speaks with Julie Carr Smyth, who covers politics for the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Guest host Diana Nyad, 2002 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books.

Enron

Department of Justice on Causey plea

Wall Street Journal article on Causey's plea bargain

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan

Diebold Election Systems

Smyth's article on Diebold executives giving to GOP despite ban

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney