News in brief - Aug. 15, 2011

Three in four physicians accept drug samples

Despite criticism of the practice by opponents of pharmaceutical marketing, 77% of physicians accept drug samples to give to their patients, according to a telephone survey of 168,834 medical offices representing about 480,000 doctors.

The survey results, released in August by the physician profiling firm SK&A, found variation in drug-sample acceptance by physician group size. The more doctors in the physician group, the less likely the group was to take samples. Groups of five doctors or fewer took samples 76% of the time, compared with an acceptance rate of 54% among groups of 10 to 20 doctors.

Critics argue that most drug samples wind up going to insured patients and are used by drugmakers as a marketing technique to promote use of their products. The 23% of physicians who don't take samples is about the same proportion of doctors who refuse to see pharmaceutical sales reps, the SK&A report said.

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Vermont issues "bath salts" chemicals ban

Vermont has joined about 30 states attempting to combat the spread of synthetic drugs known as "bath salts" by banning two chemicals commonly used to make them.

Gov. Peter Shumlin announced Aug. 3 an emergency rule banning mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone in the state. Bath salts are powerful stimulants that cause a range of symptoms, including paranoia, hallucinations, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. They are sold legally in parts of the United States under names such as Cloud Nine and Ivory Wave.

"This is a very dangerous drug that has led to deaths around the country," Shumlin said. "While Vermont has not experienced the problems seen elsewhere at this point, we need to move now to ensure bath salts don't become the dangerous drug of choice here."

The American Medical Association supports a national bath salts ban. House and Senate bills to classify the chemicals as controlled substances are being considered.

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