Importing Drugs from Canada

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how advocates of importing drugs to the US argue that currently people are paying too much for necessary prescription drugs or cannot afford them at all in the U.S. They also argue that to prohibit the buying of Canadian drugs is a constraint upon consumer freedom. The paper discusses how the lack of affordable health care and health insurance creates resentment in patients, who believe that the federal government has corporate interests at heart rather than consumer health.

From the Paper:

"Importation or smuggling? As drugs become more and more costly, the possibility of importing drugs from Canada has seemed increasingly attractive to many American consumers. Internet pharmacies offer cheap drugs from Canada-based online pharmacies and prescriptions can be obtained online without patients actually seeing a doctor in person. Such situations certain skirt the edge of legality, as do some persons who merely stroll across the border and stroll back with their medications without reporting this to customs agents. ("It's Easy to Get a Prescription Online but is it Legal, 2005, Healthy Place) But many of these Canada-bound shoppers are not looking for a ready supply of Prozac or a quick weight-loss pill, but are in search of medications such as insulin or heart medication that they cannot otherwise afford, or at least believe they cannot afford on a fixed income."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Colabrese, Inez. "Online Pharmacies." CBS News Report. BroadcastApril 11, 2000.
• Basler, Barbara (2006) "U.S. Steps Back on Drug Seizures." 2006 AARP Bulletin.
• Bast, Joseph. "The Pros and Cons of Importing Drugs from Canada." April 19, 2004.The Heartland Institute Special Report.
• "Canadian internet pharmacies have strict standards, U.S. auditors reports." (25 Jul 2005)Community Action.
• Frederick, James. (2003) "Despite upheavals Canadian pharmacies expand reach." Drug Store News.

More papers on Importing Drugs from Canada:

• Research Paper # 95219 : "Importing Pharmaceutical Drugs"
• Research Paper # 62797 : "The Prescription Drug Debate"
• Essay # 70428 : "Drug Importation"

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