From: Raymond Rowe [raynorrowe@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 1:29 PM
To: fdadocket@oc.fda.gov
Subject: drug prices

We are Norma and Raymond Rowe, writing to offer comments to the US Food and Drug Administration with regard to the FDA's authority over "commercial speech" especially with regard to pharmaceutical companies' advertisements of prescription drugs.

We have personal knowledge that prescription costs in Canada are one-half the prices (in US dollars) in the Portland, OR area. IF a US drug company can make is US company can make a profit on medications sold in Canada, why are the same drugs sold in the USA for so much more money?

We must have truth in advertising for medications. It can be a matter of life or death to consume medications if you are not aware of megative aspects.

We  do not believe the pharaceutical industry needs any further weakening of advertising laws/regulations.We also believe that, like alcohol products, medical products should not be allowed to advertise at all.

The pharaceutical industry preys on the nation's most vulnerable citizens; the sick, infirm and aging. The FDA must maintain and increase it's role as watchdog, not ease off further. We must go back to the FDA rules in effect prior to 1997.

We feel it is the responsibilty of the FDA to help find ways to keep costs down, not help raise them.

Thank you.