pharmaceutical drugs (public domain)‘Big Pharma Ads Are Everywhere’: A Poem by Roy E. Peterson The Society May 6, 2025 Poetry, Satire 22 Comments . Big Pharma Ads Are Everywhere Big Pharma ads are everywhere __Suffusing my TV. They fail to give me confidence __that they are right for me. They start with all the maladies __their medicine is for. Then give the possibilities __of dangers I abhor. The list of all the side effects __are laid on us real thick. The hypochondriac would say, __“It’s enough to make me sick.” One says to stick a needle in __my eye each month or so, says it could hurt my retina, __and leave me blind also. One says it might cause headaches and __may give me a high fever. Another: damage my gall bladder __perhaps destroy liver. One tells you check to make sure you __don’t have tuberculosis. One warns you to beware if you have __coronary thrombosis. One says stop taking it if breathless __or feel light in the head. One seems to say stop taking it __if you are pronounced dead. After listing all the problems __these drugs could soon create, They say talk to your doctor then, __ask for a med update. I will not give the names of them __for I could get in trouble. I’m sure their legal beagles would __then leave my life in rubble. They try to spin it positively; __ignore their legalese. They think the doctor will prescribe __whatever it is you please. . . LTC Roy E. Peterson, US Army Military Intelligence and Russian Foreign Area Officer (Retired) has published more than 6,200 poems in 88 of his 112 books. He has been an Army Attaché in Moscow, Commander of INF Portal Monitoring in Votkinsk, first US Foreign Commercial Officer in Vladivostok, Russia and Regional Manager in the Russian Far East for IBM. He holds a BA, Hardin-Simmons University (Political Science); MA, University of Arizona (Political Science); MA, University of Southern California (Int. Relations) and MBA University of Phoenix. He taught at the University of Arizona, Western New Mexico University, University of Maryland, Travel University and the University of Phoenix. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. ***Read Our Comments Policy Here*** 22 Responses Mark Stellinga May 6, 2025 A delightful riot, Roy. 🙂 We’re definitely on the same page here. And every few days an amazing weight control product is introduced that always, only because it’s required by law, sneaks into the super-fine print at the bottom of the ad their explanation that “with a proper diet and regular exercise” their revolutionary product will help you thin down! How about that! A clever and well done indictment of Big Pharma. Gotta run – time to take my meds! Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 You are so right about those weight loss pills. That would make a great addition to the poem. I decided to add a penultimate verse to my poem thanks to your comment: Now there are many weight loss pills designed to make one thinner. I suppose I’d have to take the pill sometime after dinner. The truth is in the fine print that says “exercise and diet.” I do not have to take the pill and have no need to buy it. Now time for my own meds! Reply Mark Stellinga May 7, 2025 With what this added one tells me, Roy, I gather you’re a skinny old fart! A very fitting addition, and I appreciate the attribution 🙂 Be well – Warren Bonham May 6, 2025 Great Big Pharma exposé. I’m certain you won’t be surprised to hear that they spend the most every year lobbying our politicians in Washington. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 You are so right, Warren. Thank you for the kind comment. Reply Joseph S. Salemi May 6, 2025 Big Pharma is a conspiracy of greed-driven thieves. They have discovered (and carefully patented and concealed) cures for several diseases and conditions. They will not put them into production because they do not favor cures on principle. They would much rather provide “treatments” which palliate symptoms but which are required to be used by the patient on a permanent basis. This means that the patient becomes a regular source of income for them. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 Thank you, Dr. Salemi, for that excellent comment and support. Reply Paul A. Freeman May 6, 2025 My grandad, who had Type 1 diabetes (brought on by the sudden shock of being told by a hospital doorman his wife had just died in childbirth) and was a great fan of the Canadian Sir Fredrick G. Banting, who was instrumental in the discovering the importance of insulin and how to synthesise it. Quoting from a website: ‘On 23 January 1923, Banting, Collip and Best were awarded U.S. patents on insulin and the method used to make it. They all sold these patents to the University of Toronto for $1 each. Banting famously said, “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world.” He wanted everyone who needed it to have access to it.’ Look how that worked out. Thanks for bringing big pharma to the for, Roy. Reply Joseph S. Salemi May 6, 2025 This reminds me of how Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective anti-polio vaccine in 1955, refused to make any personal profit off the discovery, but instead made the formula for it freely available to the entire world. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 Good points, Paul and Dr. Salemi. Such altruism seems to elude us these days. Reply Gigi Ryan May 6, 2025 Dear Roy, “Legal beagles” had me chuckling. It is always good to find a way to laugh about vexing truths. Thank you for this. Gigi Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Bless you, Gigi, for liking that phrase and laughing with me about the truths. Reply Jeff Eardley May 7, 2025 Roy, I love the”tuberculosis” “thrombosis” rhymes, and as for sticking needles in the eyes, I think I will take, as you say on your side of the pond, “a rain check!” A very cheeky and highly amusing piece. Hope it doesn’t get you into any bother. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Thank you for the approving comments, Jeff. No eye needles! Agreed! I know your sense of humor matches. Reply Margaret Coats May 7, 2025 Thanks, Roy, for bringing up the subject of these ads tempting persons to ask doctors to prescribe more and more. Anyone over 50 already has a tray full of medications prescribed not because the patient needs them, but to protect doctors from lawsuits should anyone suffer things supposedly prevented by “standard-of-care” drugs. The “standard-of-care” being pharmaceutical, doctors rarely consider how lifestyle changes or natural remedies might help. If you want that kind of advice, which is often quite beneficial (including an effort to get the person off drugs with many undesirable side effects and unknown interactions) you get little guidance from the medical profession. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Margaret, you really provided great insight as to what is happening with pharmacology solutions compared to natural ones that may actually be more beneficial. As my daily tray of drugs now seems to be overflowing, I am starting to do more research and counter-questioning my doctors about the benefits of what they prescribed and how to resolve various ailments with more minimalist treatments. I have already jettisoned one drug recently prescribed and am contemplating two more for deletion. You are so right about doctor’s having their best interests at heart as much as the patient’s. Reply Cynthia L Erlandson May 7, 2025 Very amusing (and accurate) take on a serious issue, Roy. Those ads drive me crazy. I believe a lot of drugs could be avoided by healthy lifestyle choices, as Margaret mentioned. And doctors — there are a few good ones — shouldn’t be manipulated into giving people drugs that, if not for these ads, they wouldn’t even know about. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Thank you, Cynthia, for the kind comments. I understand drug companies also lobby doctors and that adds to the problem of prescriptions. Reply C.B. Anderson May 7, 2025 No one needs to worry about the side-effects because they are already working on cures for those. Just put up your money, and don’t complain. Big Pharma is watching out for you. Thanks, Roy. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 I love and respect your cynicism, C.B. Perfect comment! Reply Brian Yapko May 10, 2025 Excellent poetry, Roy, which shines a spotlight on an industry which has abused the public by creating a perpetual motion machine of dependency and abuse. Big Pharma (with the cooperation of a certain category of doctor) has created a massive population of addicts of narcotic drugs like oxycodone and vicodin. When I handled workers compensation cases in Los Angeles, the number of clients who became addicted to their pain meds was astonishing. We all need our medication, it’s true. But Big Pharma acts a lot like the cigarette companies did in the 1960s and early 1970s — all too eager to create a permanent customer base. Reply Russel Winick May 12, 2025 Roy – Thanks for a very meaningful and thought (and comment!) provoking poem! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Mark Stellinga May 6, 2025 A delightful riot, Roy. 🙂 We’re definitely on the same page here. And every few days an amazing weight control product is introduced that always, only because it’s required by law, sneaks into the super-fine print at the bottom of the ad their explanation that “with a proper diet and regular exercise” their revolutionary product will help you thin down! How about that! A clever and well done indictment of Big Pharma. Gotta run – time to take my meds! Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 You are so right about those weight loss pills. That would make a great addition to the poem. I decided to add a penultimate verse to my poem thanks to your comment: Now there are many weight loss pills designed to make one thinner. I suppose I’d have to take the pill sometime after dinner. The truth is in the fine print that says “exercise and diet.” I do not have to take the pill and have no need to buy it. Now time for my own meds! Reply
Mark Stellinga May 7, 2025 With what this added one tells me, Roy, I gather you’re a skinny old fart! A very fitting addition, and I appreciate the attribution 🙂 Be well –
Warren Bonham May 6, 2025 Great Big Pharma exposé. I’m certain you won’t be surprised to hear that they spend the most every year lobbying our politicians in Washington. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi May 6, 2025 Big Pharma is a conspiracy of greed-driven thieves. They have discovered (and carefully patented and concealed) cures for several diseases and conditions. They will not put them into production because they do not favor cures on principle. They would much rather provide “treatments” which palliate symptoms but which are required to be used by the patient on a permanent basis. This means that the patient becomes a regular source of income for them. Reply
Paul A. Freeman May 6, 2025 My grandad, who had Type 1 diabetes (brought on by the sudden shock of being told by a hospital doorman his wife had just died in childbirth) and was a great fan of the Canadian Sir Fredrick G. Banting, who was instrumental in the discovering the importance of insulin and how to synthesise it. Quoting from a website: ‘On 23 January 1923, Banting, Collip and Best were awarded U.S. patents on insulin and the method used to make it. They all sold these patents to the University of Toronto for $1 each. Banting famously said, “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world.” He wanted everyone who needed it to have access to it.’ Look how that worked out. Thanks for bringing big pharma to the for, Roy. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi May 6, 2025 This reminds me of how Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the first effective anti-polio vaccine in 1955, refused to make any personal profit off the discovery, but instead made the formula for it freely available to the entire world. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 6, 2025 Good points, Paul and Dr. Salemi. Such altruism seems to elude us these days. Reply
Gigi Ryan May 6, 2025 Dear Roy, “Legal beagles” had me chuckling. It is always good to find a way to laugh about vexing truths. Thank you for this. Gigi Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Bless you, Gigi, for liking that phrase and laughing with me about the truths. Reply
Jeff Eardley May 7, 2025 Roy, I love the”tuberculosis” “thrombosis” rhymes, and as for sticking needles in the eyes, I think I will take, as you say on your side of the pond, “a rain check!” A very cheeky and highly amusing piece. Hope it doesn’t get you into any bother. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Thank you for the approving comments, Jeff. No eye needles! Agreed! I know your sense of humor matches. Reply
Margaret Coats May 7, 2025 Thanks, Roy, for bringing up the subject of these ads tempting persons to ask doctors to prescribe more and more. Anyone over 50 already has a tray full of medications prescribed not because the patient needs them, but to protect doctors from lawsuits should anyone suffer things supposedly prevented by “standard-of-care” drugs. The “standard-of-care” being pharmaceutical, doctors rarely consider how lifestyle changes or natural remedies might help. If you want that kind of advice, which is often quite beneficial (including an effort to get the person off drugs with many undesirable side effects and unknown interactions) you get little guidance from the medical profession. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Margaret, you really provided great insight as to what is happening with pharmacology solutions compared to natural ones that may actually be more beneficial. As my daily tray of drugs now seems to be overflowing, I am starting to do more research and counter-questioning my doctors about the benefits of what they prescribed and how to resolve various ailments with more minimalist treatments. I have already jettisoned one drug recently prescribed and am contemplating two more for deletion. You are so right about doctor’s having their best interests at heart as much as the patient’s. Reply
Cynthia L Erlandson May 7, 2025 Very amusing (and accurate) take on a serious issue, Roy. Those ads drive me crazy. I believe a lot of drugs could be avoided by healthy lifestyle choices, as Margaret mentioned. And doctors — there are a few good ones — shouldn’t be manipulated into giving people drugs that, if not for these ads, they wouldn’t even know about. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson May 7, 2025 Thank you, Cynthia, for the kind comments. I understand drug companies also lobby doctors and that adds to the problem of prescriptions. Reply
C.B. Anderson May 7, 2025 No one needs to worry about the side-effects because they are already working on cures for those. Just put up your money, and don’t complain. Big Pharma is watching out for you. Thanks, Roy. Reply
Brian Yapko May 10, 2025 Excellent poetry, Roy, which shines a spotlight on an industry which has abused the public by creating a perpetual motion machine of dependency and abuse. Big Pharma (with the cooperation of a certain category of doctor) has created a massive population of addicts of narcotic drugs like oxycodone and vicodin. When I handled workers compensation cases in Los Angeles, the number of clients who became addicted to their pain meds was astonishing. We all need our medication, it’s true. But Big Pharma acts a lot like the cigarette companies did in the 1960s and early 1970s — all too eager to create a permanent customer base. Reply
Russel Winick May 12, 2025 Roy – Thanks for a very meaningful and thought (and comment!) provoking poem! Reply
