No abstract

A study was made of total drug usage (prescription, over-the-counter, social), health characteristics, and life satisfaction in 55 noninstitutional retired men and women whose average age was 70 years. The sample was purposively selected on the basis of involvement in peer group interaction networks. Among those using drugs, the average number taken per person was 2.0 prescription, 1.8 over-the-counter, and 1.8 social (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine), for a total of 5.6 drugs. For men the average was 7.5, and for women 4.7 drugs. Although drug interaction hazards from prescription drugs alone appeared to be minimal, examination of total drug usage indicated potential interactive hazards. Despite the number of chronic illnesses and physical impairments (5 and 1 per person respectively) and the number of drugs ingested, the respondents usually expressed overall satisfaction with their life condition. A commonly expressed dissatisfaction (males 75 percent, females 35 percent) was with government officials. Respondents had confidence in both their physicians' diagnoses and the effectiveness of the drugs prescribed. The findings that women reported more chronic diseases and physical impairments, and were relatively more dissatisfied with their life condition than were men, may be associated with their greater acquiescence with self-disclosure.

No abstract

A survey of 111 gender-oriented popular magazines showed that although seventeen more men's magazines than women's were examined, almost seven times as many over-the-counter drug advertisements were found in the latter than in the former. The majority of over-the-counter drug advertisements placed in women's publications centered around the concern for appearance, while the largest number of advertised products found in men's were for stimulants. Stimulants advertised as energizers were frequently merchandised as “look-alikes.” It was suggested that regulatory efforts should be enhanced against the advertising of approved drugs for unapproved purposes. The simulated sun tanning pill was presented as a case in point. Criteria were presented to help the editorial staffs of magazines and consumers to recognize deceptive advertisements, bordering on quackery.

No abstract