The Drugging of Society

The Drugging of Society

If we are thinking about what is the most profitable business in the history of our country, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the oil or gas industry. When in fact, the pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable business. Yes, the drug companies are the most profitable businesses in the United States. We are not talking about the selling of drugs in our nation's streets. We are referring to the selling of drugs in doctor's offices nationwide. Americans are needlessly being debilitated by medications prescribed by their doctors. Rather than treating the cause, the healthcare providers are treating the symptoms with hundreds of millions of prescriptions for the "magic pills" worth billions of dollars. In some cases, people are being prescribed medication when they are going through normal stresses of life — as if it were abnormal to feel grief when we lose a loved one or a job, or to feel anxious when we make life changes like getting a divorce or raising children. For some people, taking a pill translates into a personal belief that there is something wrong with them, or they are incapable of solving their own problems. It encourages them to numb out bad feelings, just as they would with over-eating, alcohol, smoking and street drugs. At its worst, taking pills teaches people that they are helpless to manage their feelings without the help of mood altering drugs. The current remedy being prescribed by physicians leaves people feeling powerless over their own bodies and hopeless about their ability to control their lives.

Martin Bischoff is a 10-year old veteran of pharmaceutical sales and is currently a nation sales director in China for one of the globe's pre-eminent pharmaceutical companies. Successful Pharmaceutical Selling by Martin Bischoff includes the observations of competitors, peers, and healthcare environment that have radically changed over the last decade. He reveals all the major points and little secrets that a physician should know about selling and promoting drugs and encourages the prescription of more drugs possible.

Time is more important than ever and worth a lot of more money then a short time ago. Mr. Bischoff says that physicians should look carefully at what diseases are being treated and which generates the most dollars. As with any good selling techniques, doctors should go where the money is. They should learn and understand the company compensation plan and the products that are being emphasized. The most critical point presented in the book is the importance of targeting: targeting accounts, products, and disease states. In order to achieve the greatest business potential, emphasis must be placed where the results will be maximized. It is absolutely critical to work hard, but far more important to work smart (Bischoff 65). The pharmaceutical companies encourage doctors to utilize as many handouts