Prescription-Drug Prices

American Voices ISSUE 35•44 Dec 1, 1999

Prescription-drug prices are expected to be a major issue in the 2000 presidential campaign, with most drugs costing substantially more in the U.S. than overseas. What do you think about the high cost of medication in America?

  • “Actually, that's not entirely true: Kessler's Drugs is having a big sale on Tetracycline this week. There's a coupon in the Sunday Shopper.”

    Lorraine Kiel –
    Homemaker

  • “I blame women for the high prices. They're always needing some fancy pill for their box or for lumps in the rack or something.”

    Keith Fowler –
    Cab Driver

  • “As the CEO of a major pharmaceutical firm, I can assure you that those high prices are necessary to cover the extraordinary cost of membership dues and green fees.”

    Walter Moore –
    Pharmaceutical CEO

  • “I think what's getting lost in this whole debate is this: Taking drugs is wrong."

    Liz Putnam –
    Librarian

  • “That reminds me: Do you have $217 I can borrow? I don’t have insurance, and I need something to stop all this ocular bleeding.”

    Rajeev Gopindar –
    Cashier

  • “Maybe it's good that I can't afford anti- psychotic medication. It frees me up to plan the assassination of Deputy Dawg.”

    Bob Sharperson –
    Systems Analyst

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