The dangers of the Cigarette

thomsop Uncategorized

 

I wanted to focus my first blog on Camel tobacco products, primarily cigarettes but chew as well, the drug in these products is nicotine.

 

Here’s an ad from today, focused more on showing options and variety or new features with cigarettes filtration.

And Here’s an old Camel ad from the 60’s to show you a little more about Camel cigarettes and the history of the cigarette. It’s crazy to see how advertising has shifted to showing variety of products rather than speak about health issues. (likely because today we all know cigarettes are unhealthy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCMzjJjuxQI

History of the Camel

Camel cigarettes were invented by R.J. Reynolds in 1913. They contain a blend of both Turkish and Virginian tobacco and the brand was founded Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Camel city).

Reynolds mission at Camel was to sell a prepackaged cigarette because at the time, most people rolled their own. By using Turkish papers, Reynolds could sell his cigarettes for cheaper and within a year he had sold 425 million packs of Camel cigarettes. Early on, ads consisted of “healthier cigarettes” and doctor recommended cigarettes due to the fact that people didn’t know about the health effects of smoking. It wasn’t until 1987 that Joe Camel, the mascot for the brand, was created. With joe Camel around, advertisements became more recognizable and the company continued to grow only now known for the Camel. This was a logical advertisement idea because it tied the product to a brand with a very recognizable character.

Ads back then and even today attract a very wide audience. Because so many people used to smoke, and so many types of people still do it’s easy to make adds for current smokers. To do this Camel has implemented a lot of variety into their products. Different flavors or kinds of cigarettes have been marketed to fit every users wants and maybe steal users from other brands that don’t have as many options. As well as, like in the video, ads with doctors or celebrities that smoke a brand to influence people to smoke that brand because it is doctor recommended or their favorite actor is. Another common way to advertise was by showing a hard worker get off work and “relax” with a nice cigarette, this is a common theme and a good hook for people who work hard or have stressful jobs because they may be looking for something to take the edge off.

 

However, other than the audience of current smokers, new electronic cigarettes and nicotine juices have come out lately that attract a younger, newer crowd. These new products and advertisements have attracted kids or young adults that wouldn’t have otherwise smoked.

Whats in a Cigarette?

The active ingredient found in tobacco and other tobacco products is nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance. Because of the tobacco market in American and its extensive history, nicotine is quite a common drug. Considered a stimulant, about 36 million people in the united states ingest a form of nicotine (Current Cigarette…). One main thing that nicotine does to your body upon use is that it narrows the arteries in your body causing blood pressure to rise (otherwise known as vasoconstriction). While this is a main symptom of nicotine use it does many other things as well; speeds up your heart rate, can improve memory and reflexes, as well as speeding up your metabolism and breathing.

So whats killing smokers?

While nicotine is the substance that gives people the desired effects of smoking, it’s not the main health issue with smoking. Yes, smaller arteries and a high blood pressure makes a heart attack or stroke more likely but the most common effects that smoking has on people is lung, throat or mouth cancer or a collapsed lung. These symptoms occur from the constant smoke that smokers inhale and exhale and the harsh chemicals and carcinogens that are in the smoke. Around 480,000 people die every year from a smoking related death. That’s one in five people that die per year due to smoking (Current Cigarette…).

Yet we obviously don’t hear about this from companies and their advertisements.

No, they focus on keeping that information hush and preaching the stuff that will sell their product. They preach using words like: variety, choices, mild, and relaxing. These are all words that come with positive connotations and are often paired with adjectives that make them seem cooler or more desirable.

With that, they also try and disguise the same product in different forms. They have longer cigarettes, shorter ones, light or mild and strong or heavy, they use these words to make the product seem different when in reality the difference is hardly there.

Another technique that’s used is minor improvements to a cigarette whether it be a better filter or its capability to burn slower.

My thoughts

Tobacco or cigarettes are a substance that I would never recommend to somone else. They are highly addictive, with research showing that you crave another one just minutes after smoking and they have extreme potential health concerns that all can lead to death. In my opinion the risk isn’t worth the buzz and cigarettes shouldn’t ever be recommended to someone.

 

 

 

A brief history of tobacco. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from            http://edition.cnn.com/US/9705/tobacco/history/

Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States. (2016, December 01). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from             https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/inde           x.htm

History. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from http://www.rjrt.com/transforming-      tobacco/history/

High on Euphoria

kochv Uncategorized

When flipping through TV channels, you are likely to encounter at least a few commercials advertising for pain killers. These commercials often urge you to contact your physician in order to get a prescription for it. While we have all seen these commercials, we tend to ignore the most important part: the side effects. While the commercial spends 90% of it’s air time advertising how the medicine could potentially help you, it spends little time warning you of side effects such as “constipation, dizziness, liver damage, nausea and vomiting, dependence” these are just a few of the common side effects listed on WebMD (WebMD). Although you do hear about these prescription medicines being advertised, you don’t usually hear about opioid prescriptions being advertised. This is because most physicians will not prescribe you of a strong pain killer if you just go in and ask. You must have present symptoms or a recurring injury for some.

One of the opioids that has hit close to home for me is OxyContin. Upon going to the OxyContin brand website, you must choose whether you are a healthcare professional or a patient or caregiver. After clicking on “patient or caregiver” it will take you to a new website that has two informative text boxes at the bottom of the page (pictured below). OxyContin is a form of medication that is produced by Purdue Pharma, this company has been around since 1892 on a corporate level and on a production level since 1955. It is “a privately help pharmaceutical company founded by physicians,” and their mission is as follows: “to find, develop, and introduce innovative medicines that meet the evolving needs of healthcare professionals, patients and caregivers” (Purdue Pharma). It was in 1972 that they developed Contin and in 1996 they launched OxyContin, and in 2013 OxyContin was approved new labeling of Full Prescribing Information. To learn more about their company ethics, head over to their Ethics & Compliance page, http://www.purduepharma.com/about/ethics-compliance/.

 

Unfortunately, there are not many advertisements out for opioid drugs as these tend to be classified as schedule II narcotics. Being a schedule II substance means that they have a high potential for abuse and could lead to physiological or mental health problems. In the one ad I did find, it referred to OxyContin as “A step in the right direction…” (pictured below). This is a direct advertisement to the consumer, reminding them every time they take their pill that it will ensure you are getting better because you are not feeling as much pain. This form of advertisement is a subtle trick that some pharmaceutical companies use. It puts a subconscious reminder in your brain that this is helping you be a better part of today’s society and by making you believe that, it encourages you to continue to take the drug. This is a direct advertisement to the consumer as it ends up in their house.

OxyContin has one main active ingredient, which is oxycodone. This means that OxyContin and oxycodone are truly the same drug, but OxyContin is a stronger version of it. Oxycodone is an extremely powerful pain reliever, which means that misuse of this drug can lead to “addiction, poisoning, overdose, or even death” (Illinois-Chicago, U.O.). After reading more into how oxycodone works, I found that it “changes the way that the brain responds to pain…(and) has a high potential for abuse…(and) may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence” (The Effects of Oxycodone Use). As a result of this high risk for abuse, there is subsequently a high risk for overdose making this a rather dangerous drug. Some of the negative long-term effects include kidney and liver failure and can lead to harder times taking in new information and retaining it. It could lead to both a psychological dependency or a physical dependency, which booth affect the way people feel. Psychologically, it creates a sort of euphoric and blissful feeling that people don’t want to let go of; physically, tolerance is likely to develop very quickly while taking oxycodone. While there is a possible positive side effect, helping manage pain, there are far more negative side effects to be aware of (The Effects of Oxycodone Use).

Overall, I feel like this drug has a high potential of going bad and I have been on the receiving end of this. I tore my ACL and had to have surgery to have it repaired. I remember taking OxyContin as my long-term painkiller and developing an addiction to it. It began with basic side effects of taking new medication such as dizziness, drowsiness and an overall high feeling. However, as the first day went on I did not eat and felt extremely nauseous. I was up all night long, half the time sitting over the toilet or with a bowl by my bed just in case I couldn’t hold down the pill. After my body adjusted, the painkiller really helped with the pain. I was alternating the OxyContin and ibuprofen as prescribed and things were looking up. We started to reduce my doses and that’s when the problems began again. I began to feel agitated, emotional and had extremely bad cramps. We were able to push past the first few problems and then came the first day back to school. I had to wait an extra 30-minutes to take my dose because I was supposed to drive myself to school that day or else I would have been stuck on campus after school and I wanted to see how long I could go without the painkiller. Unfortunately, I wasn’t even able to make it out of the house initially. I was stuck sitting on the couch with my sister crying for honestly no reason. I remember the conversation with my sister as she reminded me that I didn’t have to go back to school if I wasn’t ready. She had gone through a similar experience when she tore her rotator cuff and was taking Vicodin, the side effects and addiction of that for her was so strong that they had to switch her to a different painkiller, one that was less strong and less addictive. I responded to her through the tears, “I want to go though, I don’t know why I’m so upset.” This was one of the most frustrating things for me as I don’t cry often and am very strong and capable. Being held back by something out of my control was honestly worse than the pain and that is something I would not wish on anyone. The fact of the matter is that, at least temporarily, OxyContin changed the way my brain functioned. It not only changed the way that I reacted to pain, but it changed my ability to control my psychological state which was extremely detrimental to my mental health.

Painkillers are not something to mess around with, as our 44th president Barack Obama stated, “more Americans now die every year from drug overdoses than they do from motor vehicle crashes the majority of those overdoses involve legal prescription drugs.” This alone should be able to show you how dangerous opioids are, as most prescription painkillers fall under opioids. In the last 25 years, “the number of prescriptions for opioids have escalated from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013” (Abuse, N.I.) this results in the U.S. the biggest consumer of painkillers. The rising number or prescriptions also means there is a rising number of addictions and overdoses, which is probably what prompted President Obama to make such a comment as the one above. On top of the rising number of painkiller prescriptions, there is also a direct correlation to an increase of heroin abusers, as it is usually cheaper than the addicts pill of choice. Within a 7 year-span, “the number of heroin users in the United States doubled, going from 380,000 to 670,000” (Abuse, N.I.).

Going off of my own experiences, I wouldn’t recommend this drug to anyone with addiction in the family as it is too easily obtainable post-prescription and it is extremely easy to develop dependency to it. Leaning away from my personal experience, I would possibly recommend it as it is a very useful painkiller that is trusted by many, many physicians. I would only recommend it to family and friends post surgery or post traumatic injury. I also think that it is extremely important to share patient-family health when it comes to addiction with your doctor when they are going to prescribe you such pills. It is also important to stay in contact for the first few days after beginning to take opioids of any kind, as there are often early warning signs of addiction and side effects. Take the time to educate yourself and the people around you before you start so that everyone knows what to be looking out for in case something goes wrong because it can be hard to tell or even to admit it if it is happening to you.

 

Opioid (Narcotic) Pain Medications. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/narcotic-pain-medications

About Purdue. (n.d.). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from http://www.purduepharma.com/about/

Illinois-Chicago, U. O. (2016, May 23). Oxycodone vs. OxyContin. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.healthline.com/health/pain-relief/oxycodone-vs-oxycontin#with-other-conditions8

The Effects of Oxycodone Use. (2017, May 25). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://drugabuse.com/library/the-effects-of-oxycodone-use/

Abuse, N. I. (2014, May 14). America’s Addiction to Opioids: Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2016/americas-addiction-to-opioids-heroin-prescription-drug-abuse

Marijuana Advertisement Debunk

sulliv60 Marijuana , ,
https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/10/leafly-the-web-ultimate-cannabis-resource/

Marijuana has become a more popular drug as time goes on. With the legalization and recreational use of this drug, adolescents are beginning to see cannabis as a common drug. With marijuana being legal in some states, more and more people, not just adolescents, are participating in the use of this drug. Now there are middle-aged mothers smoking to relax after taking their child to school and businessmen sitting down for a smoke instead of a drink. As this drug becomes more popular, there are less negative stereotypes attached to this drug. Marijuana is an interesting drug because of its increased popularity and normality in the last decade. As time goes by, the stereotypes change and mold into the positive benefits. Even though that this drug is being used more recreational, marijuana does not have as many advertisements as other drugs. This advertisement is for the Compassionate Care Act in New York, which was an act passed to let people use marijuana medically in June of 2014. This advertisement explains that people with an illness do not have to suffer as much because of the passed act. There is also a little information about the website of Leafly on the bottom.

Leafly is the largest cannabis information website in the world since 2010. They specialize in informing cannabis users about strains, common questions, different methods of smoking, and knowledge about products. Leafly mainly focuses on digital marketing. In today’s society, almost everyone in America has a smart phone or access to a computer. Leafly’s smart marketing stagey is to keep most information on the website. According to Leafly.com in an article titled How to Market your Cannabis Business revised in 2017 by the Leafly staff, Leafly wants to keep communication between the brand and the audience online using blogs, articles, and websites (Leafly staff, 2017). A lot of companies have picked up this strategy because of the popularity of online use. The marijuana industry uses the same marketing styles as others; however, there are a few details that are different. Leafly takes advantage of creating interactive activities on their website. There is also an application for smart phones in case people want to take their questions about marijuana on the go. Sponsorship and collaboration is very important for an online business because the more people who know about the industry, the more the website will grow.

The intended audience for this advertisement is people who have an illness. Marijuana is known to help people who have cancer and other sicknesses with pain during their treatment. This was found on the Leafly website. By looking at this advertisement, there also seems to be a target age. Leafly is promoting their website to middle-aged Americans. People who would most likely will be seeing this advertisement are current cannabis users because Leafly posted the ad on their website.

           According to DrugAbuse.gov in an article titled What is Marijuana? by Nora D. Volkow in 2013, marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried flowers of Cannabis sativa (Volkow, 2013). The main chemical in this drug is called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is also known as THC. THC is what causes the high while intoxicated with marijuana. There are many strains of marijuana, which means that there are different kinds of marijuana that have different affects. This drug also has many names. Some names include cannabis, weed, Mary Jane, skunk, pot, sticky icky, devil’s lettuce, wacky tabacky, and many more. People use this drug for many reasons. Along with medical use, marijuana is also used recreationally. There is a variety of ways to consume this drug. Smoking marijuana is the most popular way of consuming this drug. People smoke rolled leaves or in a piece such as a bong or a pipe. Marijuana can also be broken down and put in food. People take out the THC from the plant and then break it down into a form of fat such as butter. They then use the butter to bake sweets and other food. According to the same article by Volkow, marijuana can lead to dependency. Not many people become dependent on marijuana though. According to an article titled The Biggest Myths about Marijuana – Debunked by an Addiction Expert on Quartz website by Akshat Rathi in 2015, “Marijuana can affect the brain like other addictive substances by causing surges in certain chemicals, like dopamine, in the brain… Most who use marijuana do not become addicted to it. Published data say that 9% of adults and 17% of young people who use it become addicted” (Rathi, 2015). This advertisement did not mention the ingredients of the drug. They also did not include the negative aspects. This was mainly advertising a website. On they website there is very detailed informational articles and posts about the drug. For advertisements it is very important to state the side effects of whatever you are promoting so that the audience knows what they are doing to their body.

Leafly used advertising techniques for this promotion. “Just Say Know” is written in big letters to catch the eyes of the audience. This phrase does not have much detail because Leafly wants people to look into the ad more. There are also two attractive, white, middle-aged Americans on the advertisement. That is also a style of advertising. The addition of movement was also an eye catching effect. When writing in the strain bubbles, Leafly decided to write as little as possible, which is a good choice because no one would want to read a long and complicated paragraph about how different strains have different affects. Leafly finally gives the audience a little suspense because the advertisement states some information, but not all of the information. The audience has to go the Leafly.com to find out more about marijuana.

In my opinion, marijuana is not the worst drug in the world. Being a college student, I come across many different drugs. Marijuana is tame compared to other drugs such as cocaine, heroin, prescription drugs, and even alcohol. Marijuana calms the mind and relaxes me. I cannot complain about those effects. I would recommend this drug to my friends and family member. Cannabis has helped me with my anxiety and pain. I have done my research to become aware of the affects of the different substances I am taking. Overall, marijuana advertisements have misconceptions on them as do most advertisements.

 

 

 

References

 

Leafly Staff (2017). How to Market your Cannabis Business.  Retrieved from https://www.leafly.com/company/about

Rathi, Akshat (2015). The Biggest Myths about Marijuana – Debunked by an Addiction Expert. Retrieved from https://qz.com/528539/the-biggest-myths-about-marijuana-debunked-by-an-addiction-expert/

Volkow, Nora D. (2013). What is Marijuana? Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-marijuana

 

Sadie Sullivan

Tobacco On a Children’s Show

powersm5 Tobacco

By Mara Powers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c

This ad is for Winston cigarettes. It is featured in the famous show, “The Flintstones.” I chose to do a tobacco ad because they are so common and have been very prominent throughout American history. Many of the old advertisements are striking by claiming that doctors approve of one brand of cigarettes over another; or that famous athletes, movie stars, and so on, approve and endorse this product. I think that many people see these ads without truly digesting what they are watching and the effect it has on the viewers. I think that it is very important to discuss why companies are allowed to advertise products like this to wide demographics. It is harmful for everyone, but specifically adolescents and teens, who are very impressionable, to see advertisements for drugs like tobacco.

I chose this specific ad because it shows that tobacco companies advertise in places that are not just for “adults.” This ad shows the lengths tobacco companies are willing to go to in order to advertise their product and get as many consumers as possible. It surprised me that a tobacco company would choose a children’s show to sponsor. To me, it would make more sense to put your advertising dollars into a demographic that is actually of-age to purchase your product.

The company that produced this ad is RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, also known as Reynolds American. The company was formed in 1875 in Winston, North Carolina (hence why the cigarettes are named Winstons). RJ Reynolds sold a variety of tobacco products, including more than 12 types of chewing tobacco.

In 1899, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. was not doing as well as hoped. The owner, Mr. Reynolds, resorted to selling two-thirds of the company to the owner of American Tobacco Company, James Duke, for $3 million. The deal allowed Mr. Reynolds to manage Reynolds Tobacco. Reynold’s big break came in 1913 when they introduced Camel cigarettes. Part of why they were so successful was their price: $0.10 for a pack of 20 cigarettes—which was 5 cents less than his competitors. Camels were so popular that by 1920, RJ Reynolds was the top-selling cigarette company in America.

RJ Reynolds started using a company called NW Ayer & Son to do their advertising in 1910—which may not have been the best choice. Reynolds did not run its first “female-friendly” campaign until 1929, which was after the other two tobacco companies that made up the “Big Three.” Reynolds also did not respond or counter American Tobacco’s claims about “toasting” which supposedly made Lucky Strike cigarettes less harmful. Additionally, Ayer and Reynolds did not utilize advertising on the radio until 1931 (three years after Lucky Strike). After Camel’s sales continued to decrease and advertising costs were continually increasing, RJ Reynolds switched to an advertising company called William Etsy & Company in 1932. This company focused their advertising on young adult audiences. The first advertising campaign ran by Etsy was put out in 1933 and by 1936, Camel was the top-selling cigarette again.

More trouble for Reynolds ensued when doctors started publishing links between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer in the fifties. In order to combat this and regain public faith, Reynolds introduced Winston filtered cigarettes as well as a menthol cigarette. Reynolds continued to struggle in the fight against doctors, including the U.S. Surgeon General who, in 1964, issued a report that outlined a specific link between smoking cigarettes and diseases.

RJ Reynolds Tocaboo Company has seen its ups and downs in the tobacco industry—sometimes being the top performer and other times failing to perform. Regardless, the company has been successful in selling their product for more than 100 years (AdAge, 2003).

The ad is located in the middle of a children’s television program, “The Flintstones.” Children would be watching this television show presumably either alone or with their parents. I do not believe this ad was intended to encourage children to smoke, but instead, to make it look acceptable and cool for adults to smoke. When children see a TV show that features their favorite characters doing something, they likely aspire to do the same thing when they are older. The ad shows Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble taking a smoking break and talking about all of Winston cigarette’s great attributes. They talk about the taste, the type of tobacco used, the filter, and why they prefer Winston cigarettes.

I think they are also advertising to the adults who are watching this show with their children. It may make them think, “Oh yeah, now would be a good time for a smoke” and remind them to buy Winston cigarettes. The language used by Fred and Barney would not necessarily be understood by children because they likely do not have a good understanding of the parts of a cigarette. That is why I believe they are trying to advertise to the adults and children.

The active ingredient in cigarettes is tobacco—a plant that contains an addictive ingredient called nicotine. These ingredients are both addictive and extremely dangerous. On average, a cigarette smoker inhales 300 breaths of nicotine to the brain. Abuse of this drug is common because the addictive component, nicotine, increases the release of dopamine in the brain; which is responsible for the feeling of pleasure and reward. The ability of the nicotine to reach the brain in such a short time (about ten seconds) also plays a role in its likelihood to be abused and depended upon. That relief is short-lived, however, causing the smoker to need to smoke frequently to avoid the “withdrawal” that comes with not smoking.

Abuse of nicotine is immensely dangerous—it can lead to death in a multitude of ways. Nicotine poisoning can cause the user to experience “sweating, vomiting, mental confusion, diarrhea, and breathing difficulties” (Hanson, Venturelli, & Fleckenstein, 2014). Death is possible when there is a paralysis of muscles which stops respiratory functions. Every cigarette can produce one to two milligrams of nicotine and the fatal amount is 60 milligrams. It is also common for cigarette smokers to develop a number of diseases that can lead to death: cancer, cardiovascular disease, bronchopulmonary disease, and can detrimentally effect pregnancy in women. Nicotine has even been used as an insecticide because of its toxic chemical properties.

The ad did not tell you that although there is a filter on the cigarette, the harmful chemicals still get into your body and greatly affect you. The ad showcases all of the great qualities of Winston cigarettes that make them a favorite among Barney and Fred. It inadvertently mentions that there are no additives, but that does not mean that there is nothing dangerous in the cigarette. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission charged RJ Reynolds Tobacco company because it was deceptive to say there were no additives. Jodie Bernstein, the FTC’s former Director of Consumer Protection, said that “Reynolds’ disclosure should clear up any misconception that cigarettes without additives are safer to smoke than other cigarettes. Frankly, there’s no such thing as a ‘Safe Smoke’” (the Federal Trade Commission, 1999).

The ad is a video so it uses a lot of visual techniques as well as Fred and Barney talking in order to draw in the audience and grab their attention. Because the ad is featured during the show, it does not have to do any extra work to gain the attention of the viewer—it is already being watched simply because they are watching the television show.

The main advertising techniques used are: visual imagery of beloved characters, Fred and Barney, smoking a cigarette in order to relax; visual imagery of the actual cigarette while Barney is talking about its great features, like its extended filter and great taste; the words used in the ad to make smoking Winstons sound delightful (“Let’s take a Winston break,” “Winston is the one filtered cigarette that delivers flavor 20 times a pack,” etcetera); the commercial also features Winston’s tagline: “Winston tastes good like a cigarette should!” which further encourages viewers to try a Winston cigarette.

State your overall opinion of this drug. Would you recommend this drug to a good friend or a family member? (Have you done the proper research to back up the overall opinion and recommendation you have formed?) (15 points )

I definitely would not recommend tobacco of any kind to anyone I know. It is proven beyond a doubt that smoking, chewing, or ingesting tobacco/nicotine in any fashion is detrimental to your health. There is nothing appealing or beneficial from smoking cigarettes. Although some people may use them to monitor their appetite and weight, it is not a healthy way to do that. I strongly advise against the use of tobacco and nicotine. The pleasuring or rewarding aspects of smoking or chewing tobacco do not outweigh the chance for illness, the financial burden, or the life-long addiction or dependency.

 

Works Cited

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Reynolds American). (2003, September 15). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from http://adage.com/article/adage-encyclopedia/r-j-reynolds-tobacco-reynolds-american/98855/

FTC Accepts Settlement of Charges That Ads For Winston “No Additive” Cigarettes Are Deceptive. (1999, March 03). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/1999/03/ftc-accepts-settlement-charges-ads-winston-no-additive-cigarettes

 

 

 

The Daily Brew

hagerm4 Coffee, Uncategorized

In this day and age people are living very busy lives. Trying to juggle family, friends, careers, school, a social life and time for yourself can be draining. To cope with this exhaustion society has come up with number of substances that have not only become popular throughout the years, but have also become slightly addicting. For example, tea, energy drinks, soda, chocolate, supplements, and last but not least, coffee are all different forms of the same thing: caffeine. According to The HealthLine “caffeine is a natural stimulant and is the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world and the majority of caffeine is consumed through coffee” (Kris Gunnars June 15, 2015). I decided to blog about coffee because it is what I look forward to every morning, it brings me a rush of happiness that gets me excited for the rest of the day. If I don’t have coffee in the morning it’s almost like something is off about the day and everything just feels a little awkward. This advertisement with Al Pacino introducing Vittoria Coffee relates to not only how I feel about this cozy beverage, but also how many others feel. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watchv=_ZILy1qRZTU

 

Vittoria Coffee has been a third-generational family ran business since 1958. Originally developed in Australia, but slowly making their way to the United States of America, two Italian brothers wanted to bring a taste of their Italian heritage to their new home in Australia. They started out in 1947 by introducing mineral water, parmesan cheese and pasta, but were still missing the unforgettable taste of an Italian Espresso. They put their dreams into plans in 1958 when they began locally roasting their own Arabica beans and supplying their finest batches to different cafes around Sydney. Orazio and Carmelo Vittoria’s Italian coffee flourished in Australia, “it has grown to become a household name and continues to set the standard for Australias iconic cafe culture and obsession with coffee” (Cantarella Bros December 25, 2016). Vittoria Coffee has a mission that is centered around customer satisfaction and product quality. The brothers are proud of the long standing relationships they have formed with their customers through the business. Together, they encourage each others businesses to flourish and are supportive in any way possible. Vittoria strives to provide an enjoyable experience for its people so that the business continues to provide an increasing profit. The company also values staying connected to its true Italian roots, while at the same time producing innovative drinks, food and products to entice people and keep the revenue flowing. This is a legitimate advertisement and is well qualified to be viewed by the public eye.

This advertisement’s main actor may be one of the greatest in all of American history.  Al Pacino is a well renounced performer and from what I have read the media portrays him to be a quiet, powerful and intimidating man. In the Vittoria ad he comes off confident, but not cocky and is extremely intentional about his career. Its an inspirational video to watch because he is so dedicated to his job and is always striving to put his best work forward. However, he goes on by saying that it wouldn’t be possible if he wasn’t able to have Vittoria coffee every day, “coffee goes with his line of work. Without coffee he’s going to feel like somethings missing in the day. He’s going to feel awkward. He’s not going to feel the same” (Al Pacino). In this commercial Al is speaking to anyone who remotely likes coffee and is explaining to them how coffee has changed his life. It is aiming to motivate people to love Vittoria coffee as much as Al Pacino does, most people will probably go out a try it because if Al Pacino loves it that much it must be amazing! The environment that the ad takes place in is also very appealing. It takes you somewhere authentic and peaceful, surrounded by kind, motivated people with a sense of life that is euphoric. This advertisement makes me want to try Vittoria coffee because of how Al Pacino speaks of it and the elements in which it is presented.

 

Coffee comes from all over the world “it’s a natural crop that originated from Ethiopia, but is presently farmed in many other countries like Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia” (Justin Walton September 14, 2015). The number one ingredient found in coffee that makes it so easy to obsess over is caffeine which is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels straight to the brain. Caffeine is the worlds most commonly consumed psychoactive drug that is also unregulated and uncontrolled in most parts of the world. Scientifically, it is a form of trimethylxanthine, in other words it’s a strong stimulant that effects the central nervous system. “The regular use of caffeine does cause a mild physical dependence. But caffeine doesn’t threaten your physical, social or economic health the way addictive drugs do” (WebMD May 2, 2017). Coffee is the type of drug that you are going to enjoy for your own pleasure because you like the taste. It’s not the kind of thing that you become heavily addicted to and need everyday in order to reach that high. “People drink coffee for a number of reasons… it’s relaxing, induces focus, provides an energy boost, tastes good and is fun to go get with friends” (Franke Foodservice Solutions June 15, 2016). Drinking coffee also has many health benefits, coffee can…

  1. boost energy levels & make you smarter – “caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, which leads to a stimulant effect. This improves energy levels, mood and various aspects of brain function” (Kris Gunnars June 15, 2017).
  2. fat burning – increases metabolism by 3% to 11%
  3. improve physical performance – increases adrenaline level and allows fatty tissues to release acids
  4. protection from chronic diseases – lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Parkinson, Alzheimers and dementia by 30% to 60%
  5. loaded with antioxidants – “the number one source of protective and beneficial antioxidants in the American diet” (Fox News November 28, 2012)
  6. treats ADHA – has adverse effect on people with ADHD and instead of excitement it is  calming

Controversially, there are negative effects that coffee can have on a persons body and mind. For example, drinking coffee right before bed can cause insomnia or restlessness, this is because the drug is working its way to your brain and caffeine stimulating your central nervous system. In addition, drinking coffee during pregnancy is scientifically proven to be unhealthy for the baby because caffeine passes through the placenta to the baby and the fetus does not have a strong enough metabolism to control the stimulant.  The Vittoria advertisement was founded on the idea that coffee will be that one thing to power you through the day and will be the motivation to excel in your career. There was nothing said about the disadvantages of drinking coffee everyday, probably because the goal of the ad was to create a higher demand for the beverage.

This advertisement has techniques that captivate the viewer and encourage them to purchase Vittoria coffee. The main actor is Al Pacino, who is a world famous celebrity. Using him and his career as a focal point of the ad inspires people to strive to work hard at their own life goals. Throughout the commercial Al reiterates how Vittoria coffee is apart of his life and without it he wouldn’t be able to be as successful as he has become. In the commercial he explains how “most of his scripts have coffee stains on them and that’s how you know it’s an Al Pacino script” (Al Pacino). It continually entices the viewer by setting the ad in a place that people could see themselves visiting to unwind and have a relaxing time. A place that is filled with farmers markets, cobblestone roads and local cafes overflowing with the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

All in all, I love coffee. The benefits heavily out way the disadvantages in a number of ways. Coffee boosts energy levels, improves physical performance, is loaded with anit-oxidents and helps treat various long-lasting diseases. The down side about caffeine is that if too much is taken when a mother is pregnant than it could negatively effect the babies metabolism. It can also keep you up during the night if consumed to late in the day. If a family member or close friend were contemplating drinking coffee I wouldn’t force them to do anything they didn’t feel comfortable doing, but I wouldn’t discourage them from trying coffee. I look forward to coffee every morning and if my friend wanted to try it out I’d be more than happy to make him or her a cup too! I feel that I’ve done a fair amount of research on the effects of caffeine on a person, especially when it comes in the form of coffee. There are countless articles to read about the subject, but the overall research supports that although coffee contains caffeine, which is the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world, it is perfectly okay to have one to two cups a day.

References:

Gunnars, Kris. “13 Health Benefits of Coffee, Based on Science.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 15 June 2017, www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-13-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee#section1.

“Vittoria Coffee Australia | Collaborations.” Vittoria Coffee USA, us.vittoriacoffee.com/collaborations.

Walton, Justin. “The 5 Countries That Produce the Most Coffee.” Investopedia, 14 Sept. 2015, www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/091415/5-countries-produce-most-coffee.asp.

“Caffeine Myths and Facts.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/diet/caffeine-myths-and-facts#1.

Inc., Franke Foodservice Solutions. “The Top Reasons People Drink Coffee.” FRANKE, blog.frankeamericas.com/blog/the-top-reasons-people-drink-coffee.

“Coffee: A Great Source of Antioxidants and an Effective Mood Enhancer.” Fox News, FOX News Network, www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/28/coffee-great-source-antioxidants-and-effective-mood-enhancer.html.

“12 Health Benefits and 6 Disadvantages of Coffee (Smashing It!).” Warrior Coffee, www.warriorcoffee.com/news/2/12-health-benefits-and-6-disadvantages-of-coffee-smashing-it.

Emmi Caffè Latte: So Fresh. So You.

monnetn Coffee , ,

 

Drug advertisements on Swiss television or radio, about tobacco and alcohol are prohibited (Scruzzi 2015). However those drugs can be advertised in theatres after 7 p.m., on newspapers and cultural or sportive events (Bundesamt für Gesundheit 2015). Other drugs advertisements about coffee and painkillers like ASPIRIN for headache, are shown quite frequently on TV and wherever you go.

So, the drug I chose is coffee, specifically Emmi’s product line Emmi Caffè Latte. Here you can find the link to my advertisement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifHlt90N34. 

I picked coffee as my drug, because I drink it almost every morning. At home, I bought Emmi Caffè Latte a lot, because it was practical to carry, to drink it on my way to school, to buy and drink it when I was on a coffee break with friends or whenever I felt exhausted and felt like I needed some kind of power.

 

Emmi’s history and mission (Emmi Deutschland, Über Uns):

  • Emmi Caffè Latte is a brand of Emmi AG, created in 2004.
  • Emmi AG is one of the largest diary producer in Europe, the largest Swiss milk processor and a worldwide renowned specialist for Swiss cheese.
  • Emmi has it’s headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland (established in 1907), but it also has several subsidiary companies in other countries: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria and UK. In these markets, outside of Switzerland, Emmi concentrates on brand concepts and specialties that work best in the specific country and society.
  • 1947, they first sold cheese and yoghurt under the brand name Emmi. In 1998 the first subsidiary company was established in Germany.
  • As consummation of coffee and drinks with caffeine started to become a trend in 2004, Emmi hopped on the coffee train and created their new trend product Emmi Caffè Latte.
  • Starting 2010 the Emmi started to be recognized more and more. A new positioning of Emmi Germany and an image design (a typical Swiss wrapping, with a red and with Swiss flag and three mountain peeks on blue background) helped people to recognize the brand faster. A Germany wide TV campaign of Emmi Caffè Latte was the ultimate step to be fully recognized and established in the market.
  • In February 2011, Emmi became partner of the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Starting 2011, Emmi’s product line Emmi Caffè latte, became official partner of ProSieben’s (German TV Channel) success format Germany’s Next Topmodel. In  013 EMMI launched the limited edition Emmi Caffè Latte Caramel New York Edition with a TV spot on every relevant channel. In 2014 Emmi expanded the range of Emmi Caffè Latte of the trend product Emmi Chai Latte, with Vanilla and classic flavor.
  • As of today Emmi Germany is still an official partner with Germany’s Next Topmodel and still successful with all their new product lines, but mostly Emmi Caffè Latte.

 

“What started out as just an idea back in 2004 is now a global success story. In 2012 we sold more than 100 million cups [of Emmi Caffè Latte] and it’s you we have to thank for this.” (Emmi Deutschland, Über Uns)

 

From Ski Champions to Germany’s Next Topmodel:

As previously described, Emmi and Emmi Caffè Latte have main sponsors like FIS Ski Alpine World Cup and TV Show: “Germany’s Next Topmodel”. Both of those have a very large audience.

Picture

FIS Ski World Cup attracts sportive people and people interested in Winter Sports or just fans of particular skiers.

For example some the Swiss Skiers (e.g. Wendy Holdener) have Emmi as a tricot sponsor during the Ski World

Championship. I think the message they want to bring across is: drink coffee and be energized and become Slalom Vice World Champion and Combined Alpine World Champion (Season 2016-17: Wendy Holdener).

  • Happy feelings
  • Shows the winner of the FIS Slalom World Championship: suggests that when drinking coffee everything is possible. Energetic. Sportive.
  • Tricot #1. Stands for best, first, winner.

Video advertisement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VifHlt90N34.)

The TV advertisement shown during Germany’s Next Topmodel shows a woman standing in front of a man, with a coffee in hand and then she starts dancing. They mostly want to grab the attention of younger people, but also people in their 40ties. I think it really is intended for a wide span of people. I guess they want to grab the attention of people who want to have fun und a happy, energized live. At least this is how the TV ad comes across.

  • Happy feelings.
  • Dancing as an indicator for energy.
  • “So fresh. So you.” Slogan.
  • Beautiful woman and handsome guy in the clip.
  • Sensual presentation of fresh roasted coffee beans dripping in creamy milk.

 

The whole video or the picture doesn’t say a word about the specific ingredients or the amount of caffeine used. It is only labeled on the product itself. The video however shows, as described above, a short cut of freshly roasted coffee melding with milk. Dangers, potential (although limited) dependence, or addiction aren’t addressed. In fact the only thing they do say is their slogan “Emmi Caffè Latte. So Fresh. So You.”

 

Is Coffee addictive or dangerous?

Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein (2015), state that caffeine is the most frequently and perhaps the most popular used drug in the world. Beverages and food contain caffeine and are consumed almost every day. The average intake of caffeine is approximately 289mg (= 2-3 cups of Coffee) for U.S. citizens. Caffeine have a similar chemical structure to xanthines.

 

Physiological effects of the xanthines according to Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein (2015):

Xanthines influence several body functions, but the effects are viewed as short-term. Only when used in high doses or by severely ill people, the drugs can be dangerous.

According to Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein (2015), 100-200mg of caffeine enhances alertness, causes arousal and diminishes fatigue. It is also commonly used to block drowsiness and heighten mental activities (e.g. Cup of Coffee in the morning to “wake up”). Caffeine stimulates formations of thoughts, but doesn’t improve our learning ability. An other effect of caffeine is that it diminishes boredom. As a result students listening to boring lectures or a dull professor, often drink caffeinated beverages.

After doses over 300mg, the effects of caffeine are reversed: insomnia, increased tension, anxiety, flushed face, nervousness, rambling thoughts and muscle twitches are the result.

Doses over 500mg “can be dysphoric (unpleasant) and can cause panic sensations, chills, nausea, and clumsiness” (Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein (2015), p. 339).

How the heart and blood vessels respond to xanthines depends on the dose and previous experience.

Low doses (100-200mg) can increase, decrease or do nothing to the heart rate.

Higher doses (>500mg) increase the heart rate. Caffeine also causes minor vasodilation in most of the body, except the brain, where it causes vasoconstrictions. For most consumers the effect caffeine has on the cardiovascular system are minor, but for people with underlining heart disease it can be dangerous. Xanthines causes air passages to open and facilitate breathing.

Based on available information, there is no strong evidence that moderate caffeine intake leads to disease. In fact some even say that moderate caffeine consumption reduces the risk of degenerative diseases of the brain (e.g. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer). However, people with existing, severe medical problems may be at greater risk.

 

Following Hanson, Venturelli, Fleckenstein, caffeine causes limited dependence, the abuse potential is much lower and dependence doesn’t really interfere with daily routines.

However it can produce addiction in some people. When withdrawing they get headaches and 10% become depressed, anxious or fatigued without their 1-3 cups of coffee. Some even experience elements of withdrawal before they had their first cup in the morning.

 

In the end…

Coffee is a commonly used drug. Today, drinking coffee has become somewhat a ritualistic devotion for many: Drinking coffee first thing in the morning, or the coffee break.

Coffee – when drunk in moderation – doesn’t have any severe effects on the brain or body. Only people with underlining heart diseased or existing medical problems (e.g. psychiatric disorder), should be aware what they are at greater risk than others. But realistically coffee still has way less elements causing serious heath problems than alcohol or smoking.

One cup of Emmi Caffè Latte Macchiato has only 80mg caffeine (Emmi Deutschland, Produkte), so it is still under the threshold where alertness etc. effects are caused!

So I recommend drinking coffee, if you want. Be it in the morning as a part of your daily ritual or during the boring lecture you’re just enduring. Sure, there is a chance of addiction or dependence. But in most cases the dependence doesn’t influence our daily routines. Honestly, if we can’t drink coffee because there is a possibility of addiction or dependence, we as well can’t drink lemonade or eat chocolat, gums, fruits, meat,…. because in the end everything becomes addictive at some point.

 

References:

Hanson, G., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2015). Drugs and society. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Scruzzi, D. (2015, April 06). Alkohol, Tabak, Kredite: Werbung mit immer mehr Verbotsschildern | NZZ. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/werbung-mit-immer-mehr-verbotsschildern-1.18516991

Bundesamt für Gesundheit (2015, May). Basisinformationen zur Tabakwerbung. Retrieved October 12, 2017 from: https://www.bag.admin.ch/dam/bag/de/dokumente/npp/tabak/basisinformation-tabakwerbung.pdf.download.pdf/2015_Basisinformation_Tabakwerbung_DE.pdf.

Emmi Deutschland. Über uns. Retrieved October 12, 2017 from: https://de.emmi.com/de/ueber-emmi/.

Emmi Deutschland. Produkte. Retrieved October 13, 2017 from: https://www.emmi-caffelatte.com/de/macchiato

 

 

-Noémie Monnet

Tobacco Drug Advertisment Debunk

crawfom5 Tobacco

By Mara Crawford

For this assignment I decided to analyze tobacco. Tobacco is used by many Americans and tobacco has been used for years in my close family. I’m curious why so many people use tobacco when its negative health effects are so well known. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States and each year approximately 480,000 Americans die from tobacco-related illnesses” (2017). I decided to analyze this particular tobacco advertisement because Camel cigarettes are familiar to me and this advertisement appealed most to me initially. The unusual use of a personified camel with bright colors automatically pulled in my attention so I’m assuming it does the same for other consumers.

According to the R.J. Reynold Tobacco Companies Official Site, R.J. Reynolds was the owner and founder of the Camel tobacco company that has been around since 1913. Camel’s became so popular because they were the first prepackaged cigarette (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Official Site 2017). Before Camel’s, smokers would roll their own cigarettes. The 20 cigarette pack, the 10 pack carton, and the cellophane wrapping are all standards established by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Official Site 2017). By Camel’s 100th anniversary in 2013 they had sold 4 trillion cigarettes (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Official Site 2017).

The mission of the R.J. Reynolds company who produce Camel, Pall Mall, and Newport is “we will achieve market leadership by transforming the tobacco industry” (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Official Site 2017). Their website includes information on “transforming tobacco” with claims that they are reducing the harm of tobacco and preventing youth from using tobacco. R.J. Reynold’s cigarettes make up one third of the total cigarette sales in the United States, making them one of the most credentialed tobacco producers in our country (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – Official Site 2017).

The intended audience for tobacco is anyone over the age of 18, or 21 in some states such as California. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 13% of adults aged 18–24 years smoke, 17.7% of adults aged 25–44 years smoke, 17% of adults aged 45–64 years smoke, and 8.4% of adults aged 65 years and older smoke (2017). Young adults and the elderly alike seem to enjoy smoking tobacco which gives cigarette companies a huge advantage. This particular advertisement was placed in magazines and on the television which are both forms of media that likely reach many different types of consumers, even children. In this advertisement we see Joe the Camel who has been controversial in the Camel advertisements because he seems to be appealing to children (Wikipedia 2017). Along with Joe the Camel, this advertisement features a sports car and an appealing woman with the beach and the city in the background which appears to be marketing to men who consider themselves high class or to men who would like to be thought of as high class. The warm colors and the beach may also be attracting women to this advertisement.

Tobacco is a plant whose addictive ingredient is nicotine. Tobacco can be smoked, chewed, or sniffed (National Institute of Drug Abuse 2017). While smoking tobacco, nicotine effects feelings of reward and pleasure. The nicotine is absorbed into your blood and causes the release of adrenaline which then increases blood pressure, breathing and heart rate (National Institute of Drug Abuse 2017). These long term changes in the brain are what cause addiction to nicotine (National Institute of Drug Abuse 2017).

Smoking tobacco is both addictive and dangerous. Tobacco use can cause health issues including lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, leukemia, cataracts, pneumonia, and heart disease which can lead to stroke or heart attack (National Institute of Drug Abuse 2017). Smoking tobacco while pregnant has serious implications on your unborn child including low birth rate, preterm delivery, and even death (American Pregnancy Association 2017). Smoking tobacco can also feel physically addicting, often times people crave the feeling of something in between their fingers or in their mouth. Smoking tobacco also has social implications and people may feel addicted to the thought of a smoke break with their friends. Smoking tobacco can also lead to gum disease and can cause bad breath and discoloration of teeth.

The advertisement above only mentions that smoking while pregnant may have effects on the unborn child, however, it failed to mention any of the other negative effects of smoking. I would consider the fact that tobacco contains addictive and harmful ingredients important to know and, in my opinion, it should be included in all tobacco advertisements. Extreme health risks should also be included in warning labels and on all advertisements.

The first thing that caught my attention in this advertisement was the unusual looking camel. By featuring something unusual the company will draw more attention to their advertisement. They have also personified the camel which makes it easier for us as people to connect with and relate to the camel. Joe the Camel is wearing a suit and sun glasses which leads us to believe he is in a high class situation. The sports car in the background also helps to capture our attention as we are often interested in rare or expensive things and we might believe that smoking Camels will get us into the same situation Joe the Camel is in. The advertisement also features a pretty woman who is giving her attention to Joe the Camel which might make us believe that smoking Camels will help us stand out and appeal to women. The background in the advertisement is a beach with a city skyline which is also appealing to many possible Camel consumers and might remind of us a place we’d like to be visiting. The warm colors used in the advertisement provide a sense of relaxation. The words “smooth character” bring all the aspects of the advertisement together and suggest that smoking Camels will give us the appeal Joe possesses. All of the advertising techniques used in this advertisement are deceptive because smoking a Camel cigarette has nothing to do with any of the situation shown.

This advertisement is no different than most drug advertisements. They aim to portray an appealing situation to possible consumers and to increase the amount of product they can sell. The switch from drug companies only advertising to physicians to drug companies advertising directly to their consumers allowed for more play in advertisement techniques such as weasel words, use of color and or background, use of celebrities, use of sex appeal, etc. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “58% of physicians agreed strongly that direct to consumer ads make the drugs seem better than they really are” (2017).

Tobacco is a commonly used drug and is legal for anyone who is 18 or older (21 in some states) in the United States. I can see how smoking a cigarette would be a social activity or a boredom killer, however, based on my research of tobacco and nicotine use I would not recommend this drug to anyone. In my opinion, the possible health risks (heart disease, cancer, etc.) outweigh any possible “highs”.

 

References:
American Pregnancy Association. (2017). Smoking During Pregnancy. http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/smoking-during-pregnancy/

National Institute of Drug Abuse (2017). Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cigarettes-other-tobacco-products

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2017). Tobacco Use. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/tobacco-use

R.J. Reynolds. (2017). Transforming Tobacco. Who we are. http://www.rjrt.com/transforming-tobacco/who-we-are/

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2017). The Impact of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising. https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm143562.htm

Wikipedia. (2017). Camel (cigarette). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_(cigarette)

 

Anti-Depressant: It Protec, It Attac, It is Prozac…

clarka32 Prescription Drugs , , ,

Prozac, my choice ad debunk…

Even though taking drugs isn’t always considered a horrible thing, we also know that even the most licit drugs (over the counter, prescription, tobacco, alcohol, etc) are harmful on a wide spectrum of ways. I personally don’t have a problem with drugs, but I know some in my family who have turned to drugs as a way to cope/escape from problems or to receive pleasure in their life that isn’t being fulfilled in a drug-free way. There has also been many celebrities who I found dear to me growing up that have also been affected by drug abuse. From comedians like Chris Farley and Robin Williams to artists like Chris Cornell and Elvis Presley, I felt afflicted knowing that substance abuse can even hurt those who have brought a lot of joy to the average Joe. However, there was one celebrity that I have grown attached to since I was a child and has become a big part of my ultimate Star Wars fandom (I could talk your ear off about it). She was a driving force in the movie world that everyone loved and admired. I’m of course talking about the late Carrie Fisher (1956-2016), most commonly known as Princess Leia Organa. As I was learning about her death, it was announced that in relation to her history of depression and bipolar disorder, her ashes were placed in a novelty Prozac pill urn that she had in her home. Knowing Carrie, she would appreciate the sentiment of that giant pill that she loved in her home; and that is why I chose to ad debunk Prozac.

Princess Leia Organa
Carrie Fisher (2015)

Depression saddens, Prozac can help.

What the Ad says: I found it a little difficult to find a T.V. ad that promoted Prozac recently. But I did find several poster ads that are similar to the one shown on the left. They contrasted what the drug can do for you, versus what you experience when not taking the drug. What better way to sell drugs, than to sell for Christmas? The first thought that I had, was connecting the sad little tree to that beloved holiday special, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. All I can say about that is “good grief.” This ad, like the others, want to express that happiness can be found in a pill. In the fine description of the ad, it informs people that depression is an illness, and Prozac isn’t habit forming (How do we know that?). This ad sends a message out to an audience that Prozac is the answer to anyone who may be suffering from depression, especially during the merriest time of the year. Perhaps this also tells our users is more of a necessity, than it is an anti-depressant?

What the ad doesn’t say: Don’t let that statement (not habit forming) fool you. The ad doesn’t inform you how it knows Prozac isn’t habit forming. I think that a lot of people want to feel normal; that normal means I should feel what everyone else is feeling and do what everyone else is doing. Even if someone who already takes Prozac may abuse the prescription, in hopes of achieving that pleasing high. I can understand that need, but isn’t there a safer way to inform the world of this drug? Why sell it as something that can be put in someones stalking? “What did you get this year?” “I got a bottle of concentrated serotonin re-uptake inhibitors! Just what I wanted.” I think that folks misunderstand that we shouldn’t be prioritizing drugs as a want or a need. Instead, remember that drugs are not the permanent solution to depression.

To further understand what is being sold, let’s see what Prozac consists of, how it works on a chemical level, and what the intended and unintended effect are.

What is Prozac and why is it so useful?

Prozac (generically known as fluoxetine hydrochloride) is one of the most popular and well known prescription anti-depressants currently on the market. On a chemical level, it is a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) anti-depressant. The fluoxetine hydrochloride affects unbalanced chemicals in the brain that any one with depressing, panic, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive symptoms might have. According to Jeff Roberts (2014) in his article The Most Dangerous & Heavily Promoted Prescription Drugs & Their Potential Natural Alternatives, “Prozac alters the mechanism that balances levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain”.

As we recall from our textbook Drugs and Society (2017), serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that sends chemical signals throughout the brain and body (including the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract). Serotonin’s job is to:

  • control blood vessel constriction
  • regulate the release of pleasant and needed hormones to the hypothalamus
    • specifically for mood, behavior, sleep, memory and learning

      A standard 20 mg Prozac pill.
  • inhibit other neurons from overreaction to various stimuli
  • and many other uses

Not only does Prozac help with depression, it has also been known to be treatful for bulimia nervosa (common eating disorder) and panic attacks. Since this drug alters serotoninergic systems, then you should expect side effects and reactions that regard mood swings, aggressiveness and irritability, abnormal sexual behavior, insomnia, nausea and many other common reactions.

Since this drug is supposed to maintain the flow of pleasing hormones, then wouldn’t that be an effect that would lead someone to want more pleasing sensations? Isn’t that why more abusers are motivated to abuse during their addiction? “When can I get my next escape?” Now that we are familiar with the drug, lets just see where this drug came from and who we have to thank for this 2nd scheduled prescription medication…

Origin of Prozac and the Eli Lilly Company

Eli Lilly Company Logo (The Biotechnology research team that brought us Prozac)

The prescription drug Prozac was first introduced back in January of 1988 to the United States. As described by Mary Bellis’ article The History of the Antidepressant Prozac (2017), Prozac “gained its most prescribed status within two years”. Man, I never realized just how quickly a new drug could become so popular. The drug was led by Ray Fuller and his research colleagues from the Eli Lilly Company (As of 2001, Eli Lilly was worth 10.9 Billion dollars a year). This company both created and distributed Prozac and still to this day, Prozac is one of the most promoted prescriptions in the U.S. Prozac is the companies best-selling drug, bringing in approx. 23.1 billion dollars in sales as of 2014 among all their prescription drugs. Lilly is also the world’s largest manufacturer and distributor of psychiatric medications. Ideally this drug is intended for users who are suffering from depression and those other disorders mentioned before. Here is a brief statement that Eli Lilly has to say about the company they run and the mission they hold:

We were founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that met real needs in an era of unreliable elixirs peddled by questionable characters. His charge to the generations of employees who have followed was this: “Take what you find here and make it better and better.” More than 140 years later, we remain committed to his vision through every aspect of our business and the people we serve starting with those who take our medicines, and extending to health care professionals, employees and the communities in which we live.

Unfortunately it is one of the many abused anti-depressants on the market.

At the end, Prozac is still a drug and not an answer…

Overall, this drug is extremely helpful to those who suffer depression, panic attacks, and bulimia nervosa; however, since it is an addictive drug, Prozac still is categorized as a 2nd scheduled drug by the FDA. Prozac is a serotonin up-taker, not a drug that should be taken forever. The problems or feelings that users have are ones that can’t be healthfully solved just be taking a pill, it is an escape. I think in general, abusers of drugs are mistaken; prescription drugs like anti depressants are not supposed to be a permanent dependency. Wouldn’t you want to cut your losses from the harmful effects of drugs, especially after your reasons for depression are no longer a worry? Quite frankly I think that is what a psychiatrist is for. I recommend talking about your depression, learn from it, and use what you learned to get back on track and produce your serotonin independently. Prozac can help, but Prozac can only help when you realize that you need to help yourself. Talk to your friends, family, and peers for social support. Help Guide (2017) makes a lot of suggestions including changes you should try in your lifestyle. Try some new and interesting things; hobbies, exercise, go out. I hope that you all have learned a little bit more about the anti depressant world of prescription drugs. Think about what choices you make and how will those choices work in the long run, rather than a temporary means to forget about depression.

 

References

Alban, D. (n.d.). Serotonin Deficiency: Signs, Symptoms, Solutions. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from https://bebrainfit.com/serotonin-deficiency/

Bellis, M. (2017, August 29). The History of the Antidepressant Prozac. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from https://www.thoughtco.com/history-antidepressant-prozac-4079788

Hanson, G. R., Venturelli, P. J., & Fleckenstein, A. E. (2015). Drugs and Society (12th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett learning. Print.

Image Gallery: Prozac Ad. (n.d.). Retrieved October 21, 2017, from http://keywordsuggest.org/gallery/1216938.html

McLean, B. (2001, August 21). A Bitter Pill Prozac made Eli Lilly. Then along came a feisty generic maker called Barr Labs. Their battle gives new meaning to the term ‘drug war.’ Retrieved October 21, 2017, from http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2001/08/13/308077/index.htm

Prozac. (2004, June 11). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/briefing/2004-4065b1-35-PROZAC-CLASS-LABELING.htm

Roderts, J. (2017, October 14). THE MOST DANGEROUS & HEAVILY PROMOTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS & THEIR POTENTIAL NATURAL ALTERNATIVES. Retrieved October 21, 2017, from http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/10/14/the-most-dangerous-heavily-promoted-prescription-drugs-possible-natural-alternatives/

Saisan, J. (2017, October). Depression Treatment. Retrieved October 23, 2017, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-treatment.htm

Who We Are. (2017). Retrieved October 22, 2017, from https://www.lilly.com/who-we-are