I wouldn’t merge physicians and pharmaceuticals in a conversation about ads. Ads for the former remain rare in my experience. Supply is tight (imagine an ad to

I wouldn’t merge physicians and pharmaceuticals in a conversation about ads. Ads for the former remain rare in my experience. Supply is tight (imagine an ad to join a 10 month waiting list) and insurance coverage is the critical entry point in searches for a new provider ( that a mental health provider is buying ads is testament to the continued lack of mental health parity / vibrant cash market there ). Pharma ads are older than the FDA itself which practically grew out of the snake oil market. What many people experience as the explosion in pharma ads is really a broadcast explosion. FDA guidance around balanced reporting of side effects changed in the late 90s such that the brief “this may kill you” was newly possible. Lots written about this, eg: https://doi.org/10.1509%2Fjppm.21.2.174.17580 https://doi.org/10.1509%2Fjppm.21.2.174.17580