News Outlet Truth Test Confirms Dangers of Florida’s Importation Legislation in PSM Ad

We recently ran an ad in Florida about the dangers of attempting to import medicine from Canada, and the risk of getting medicine from other countries like China where much of the world’s counterfeits come from. WESH 2 News serving Orlando put the ad through their exclusive Truth Test on April 25, 2019, and the claims in the ad rang true.

The truth test found that, “Right now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services refuses to allow Canadian drug imports, yet many Americans order them online, thinking they’re made in Canada. They’re not.”

They went on to investigate where the drug are coming from through an importation model, “So, where does Canada get the drugs it wants to sell to you? Other countries, including: ‘ … from China, without FDA inspection.’ The Washington Post reports China’s drug manufacturing is dangerously, poorly regulated.”

To close, the story highlighted an important statistic from the CDC – “The proof comes from the CDC, which reports two thirds of drug-related deaths in 2016 were caused by synthetic and counterfeit opioids.”

Every Florida legislator that glosses over the dangers of counterfeit medicines in talking about these bills increases the chance that someone will break the supply chain and introduce a counterfeit into Florida even before the law is implemented.

In a continued effort to educate on the dangers of drug importation proposals and in coordination with the PSM advertising campaign, PSM shared the news story via social media and through a peer-to-peer text effort to further emphasize the real dangers of the drug importation proposal currently under review by Florida’s policymakers.

 

Truth Test: Political ads making claims about drugs

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants people to have low-cost prescription drugs, but a new wave of TV ads claims the governor’s plan is ‘all wrong.’

WESH 2 News political reporter Greg Fox put those claims to our exclusive Truth Test.

“State senators are pushing a new government program, that allows prescription drugs from China, without FDA inspection.”

This new ad is one of several from “The Partnership For Safe Medicines” made of more than 70 pharmaceutical and health care groups.

They oppose Florida Senate Bill 1528, which allows the “importation of safe and effective prescription drugs from Canada.”

So, why is the ad talking about another country?

“… that allows prescription drugs from China.”

First, we go to the WESH 2 News Truth Meter. Would the bill allow prescription drugs from China? The Truth Meter rings mostly true.

Right now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services refuses to allow Canadian drug imports, yet many Americans order them online, thinking they’re made in Canada. They’re not.

And a former FBI director, who wrote that there’s no way to “effectively safeguard the U.S. drug supply from illicit foreign pharmaceuticals,” says Americans are at risk.

“They are manufactured around the world and shipped through Canada, and the Canadian government is very clear they don’t inspect, look at, or regulate any of these drugs,” former FBI director Louis Freeh.

So, where does Canada get the drugs it wants to sell to you?

Other countries, including: ” … from China, without FDA inspection.”

The Washington Post reports China’s drug manufacturing is dangerously, poorly regulated.

The commercial also correctly points out that former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb tweeted that some Canadian drugs are from “unreliable parties and counterfeiters.”

“The Wall Street Journal calls impractical, unsafe and unlikely to reduce prices.”

On the Journal’s editorial claim, WESH 2 News puts the Truth Meter right in the middle. We can’t predict the future.

But the head of the Florida Pharmacy Association, a partner with the group behind the ads, said, “The governor means well in trying to make prescriptions affordable. But there are other ways to do it than allowing foreign drug imports.”

“Too many people have already died from counterfeit drugs. Are you willing to take that risk?”

On the Truth Meter, that claim rings true. The proof comes from the CDC, which reports two thirds of drug-related deaths in 2016 were caused by synthetic and counterfeit opioids.

The ad currently airing in Florida is targeting senators, because the House has already passed an identical measure.

It could reach the Senate floor as soon as Friday, and so far, polls around the state support the measure to allow Canadian drug imports.