Perfect Drugs

One of the most enduring images of 19th century medicine is the snake-oil merchant. These quack peddlers, promising cures for everything from cancer to the common cold, sold their dubious wares to those seeking miracle elixirs and tonics.

Our understanding of disease and its treatment has since changed. Nonetheless, the tradition of the 19th century miracle vendor shares at least one thing in common with our current endeavor to develop better, more effective drugs -- the promise of healthcare in a bottle. In recent times, the advancing field of biotechnology has provided us with new means of combating diseases. Researchers are now able to design drugs to treat a wide range of ailments, from infections to mood disorders.

However, the power of drugs to provide comfort and health to millions comes at a price. Mood-affecting drugs with the power to lift depression may compromise other aspects of personality. Widespread antibiotic use accelerates the development of drug resistance in harmful bacteria, threatening to leave us defenseless against infectious diseases. The enormous expense of drug development, coupled with cost cutting in healthcare, limits access to drugs by the poor. Direct drug marketing and the "gadgetization" of medicine place increased pressure on healthcare professionals to respond to patient demands.

To resolve these dilemmas, we must first clearly understand them. We begin here by providing links to a number of resources that explore for the reader some of the issues surrounding the search for the perfect drug.

Reaction/Reflection Paper

Media Critiques

Critical Literature Reviews

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