Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medications

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) calls for the withdrawal of direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs in the United States. Although pharmaceutical advertisements may raise disease awareness and encourage patient engagement, available evidence indicates their net impact on public health is negative. Direct-to-consumer advertising can mislead patients, distort clinical decision-making, inflate medication costs, and undermine the integrity of the patient-provider relationship. ACCP's position is that prescription drugs should not be marketed as consumer products. Instead, medication therapy decisions should be driven by scientific evidence, patient-specific considerations, and professional judgment free from the influence of commercial promotion. This statement outlines ACCP's rationale and recommendations for eliminating DTC prescription drug advertising.