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. 1998 Fall;20(1):83–126.

Figure 19. Spending for Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertisements: Calendar Years 1992-97.

Figure 19

Spending for direct-to-consumer ads has risen 400 percent since 1994.

  • Manufacturers induce utilization of new, higher priced prescription drugs through direct-to-consumer advertisements, thereby contributing to the accelerating spending growth trend. Estimates of spending for direct-to-consumer advertisements are projected to exceed $1.3 billion in 1998, a 400-percent increase over 1994 spending of $0.3 billion.
  • Physicians report large increases in the number of patients requesting specific brand name drugs, one indication of the success of advertisements (Tanouye, 1996).