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FDA, EPHEDRA AND WEAPON OF MASS DECEPTION

On December 30, 2003, the FDA announced the plan to ban ephedra and all supplements that contain ephedra, even though this herb has been safely used for over 5,000 years in the Far East without any harmful side effects when used wisely. The FDA, which should act in the interest of the people, instead buckled under the pressure applied by political groups and PACs. The pharmaceutical industry and the herbal industry have been engaged in a heated battle over ephedra, which generates over a billion dollar profits for its manufacturers.

The principals in the debate over ephedra have hotly contested its use and sale for some time. During Bill Clinton’s presidency, the Democrats encouraged and supported the work of the herbal industry. In response, the pharmaceutical industry attempted to monopolize the sale of ephedra by arguing that it should be classified as a drug. Now that the Republicans can wield greater political power, they can gain the upper hand in the battle over ephedra. The decision made by the FDA was not made in the interest of safety, but instead was
influenced by politics, because the Republicans receive substantial financial contributions from the pharmaceutical companies.

As in other instances, the FDA imposed the ban because the pharmaceutical companies use fear–the weapon most effective in convincing and manipulating the public. Though it is important that the public be properly informed so that they can make responsible choices as consumers, few people make the necessary effort to look beyond the bombast and hype generated by the pharmaceutical companies. We live in a society in which many people refuse to educate themselves and seek out information outside of the Corporate owned media; unfortunately out of laziness, many allow themselves to be driven by fear generated by the industries and political groups uninterested in the well being of the public.

News reports have attributed 63 deaths to the use of ephedra. Though any death is unfortunate, these numbers nonetheless remain low when compared with hundreds of thousands of people who are killed by the misuse or overuse of over-the-counter medicines. Rather than allowing ourselves to be swayed by the emotions we might feel on learning about these deaths, we must use reason and remember that these deaths resulted from either the misuse or overuse of the product or a preexisting medical condition. Just like many other items, ranging from cleaning products, tools, to nutritional supplements, ephedra can be beneficial when used properly but harmful or even deadly when used irresponsibly. Despite the harm that can result from misuse of over-the-counter drugs, for example, the FDA allows pharmaceutical companies to sell these over-the-counter medicines, where kids and teenagers can easily access and abuse them.

I cannot help but view with skepticism the pharmaceutical companies’ sudden interest in the safety of the public; if someone received a minor injury to his toe, the pharmaceutical industry would recommend amputating a leg rather than some milder and more practical treatment if it would earn them more money. The FDA bans ephedra, and the pharmaceutical companies encourage such a ban, even when they know that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs kill far more people than an herb like ephedra. A person could consume a glass or two of alcohol and wipe out a number of people, should they make certain poor choices. When the FDA bans ephedra because of the deaths of 63 people who either had a preexisting medical condition or misused ephedra, the pharmaceutical company increases their political leverage and enjoys an increase in their profits.

Why would it be fair to ban ephedra when the alcohol, tobacco and other drugs that are sold in grocery stores, where anyone can easily access them, result in far more harmful side effects? Alcohol is one of the most lethal drugs ever known to man–it destroys families and it kills people in masses, yet the FDA has not banned alcohol or other lethal drugs like its most recent decision to with ephedra. Indeed, the FDA has looked the other way in the past when addressing the issue of harmful substances, allowing the sale of cigarettes despite the vast number of health problems and deaths resulting from smoking. The FDA should not be allowed to promote hypocritical double standards, yet the sizable influence of the pharmaceutical industry has caused the FDA to choose only particular substances to ban, while ignoring some of the most harmful substances. The pharmaceutical companies attempt to jump on the bandwagon, viewing the deaths resulting from ephedra as an opportunity for them to make money rather than as a chance for the public to inform themselves about the proper use of ephedra. Instead of acknowledging that political interest and personal gain motivate their actions, the pharmaceutical companies feign interest in the well being of the public. The pharmaceutical industry will not acknowledge that they want to seize control over the use of the herb so they can profit from it.

Since many people do not educate themselves but instead let the media misinform and mislead them, the public allows the abuses of the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry to continue to go unchecked. For example, how many times have we heard differing opinions on the side effects of using caffeine? These same pharmaceutical companies conduct research, from which they conclude that a glass or two of coffee per day can prevent disease. The results of these studies result from questionable research procedures. The highest bidder influences these studies, not the facts. The coffee industry pays these people to conduct studies that will benefit them. The public does not benefit from such dishonest research, however, it is unfortunate that the conclusions drawn from the study lack objectivity or neutrality. Like the coffee industry, the pharmaceutical industry can wield its political power to enhance its profits, but it achieves this goal by deceiving the public. From the ephedra ban, we should learn that we cannot allow the pharmaceutical industry–or any industry, for that matter–to use fear as a means of manipulating the public. Because ignorance breeds fear, people need to take the time to educate themselves, rather than allowing the powers that be deceive them.

:”The illiterates of tomorrow are not those that can not read nor write but those that refuse to learn”