The U.S. is one of only two countries in the world—along with New Zealand—that allows drugmakers to advertise prescription medicines directly to consumers. Most nations ban the practice because it blurs the line between medical guidance and marketing.

The scale is enormous. U.S. healthcare and pharma advertisers spent ~$30 billion in 2024 across media, with the top 10 drugs alone accounting for $3.3 billion in ad spend—money designed to influence what patients ask for and what doctors feel pressured to prescribe.

Research shows these ads don’t just “inform”—they shift prescribing, even when it’s not clinically indicated. In real-world simulations with standardized patients, brand requests driven by advertising significantly increased prescriptions, raising concerns about overuse and safety. Systematic reviews echo this: DTC ads are linked to inappropriate prescribing and overutilization.

I’m running for Congress to put a stop to the destruction that big pharma has had on our people. Our politicians have done nothing for long enough. Add your name to my petition to send a message to Congress that the people deserve better.