The Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) of 1987 (P.L. 100-293, 102 Stat. 95) is a law of the United States federal government. It establishes legal safeguards for prescription drug distribution to ensure safe and effective pharmaceuticals. It's designed to discourage the sale of counterfeit, adulterated, misbranded, subpotent, and expired prescription drugs. It was passed in response to the development of a wholesale sub-market (known as the "diversion market") for prescription drugs. The U.S. Constitution, adopted in 1789 by a constitutional convention, sets down the basic framework of American government in its seven articles. ... A prescription drug is a licensed medicine that is regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmacon is drug, and logos is science) is the study of how chemical substances interfere with living systems. ... For other uses, see Counterfeit (disambiguation). ... For other meanings, see Drug (disambiguation). ...

The PDMA was modified by the Prescription Drug Amendments of 1992 (P.L. 102-353, 106 Stat. 941) on August 26, 1992. August 26 is the 238th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (239th in leap years). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

See also

• Regulation of therapeutic goods
• Good Distribution Practice
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA, USA)
• Pharmaceutical marketing
• Disease mongering

The regulation of therapeutic goods, that is drugs and therapeutic devices, varies by jurisdiction. ... Good Distribution Practice or GDP deals with the guidelines for the proper distribution of medicinal products for human use. ... FDA logo The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for regulating food, dietary supplements, drugs, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics in the United States. ... Pharmaceutical marketing is the business of advertising or otherwise promoting the sale of pharmaceuticals or drugs. ... Disease mongering is a term used to describe a perceived attempt by pharmaceutical companies to promote public awareness of (frequently harmless) conditions or diseases with the aim of increasing sales of medication. ...

External links

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Report to Congress, June 2001
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Report to Congress, June 2001 (PDF)
• California Department of Health Services Website, Food and Drug Branch page (State agency provides background on federal PDMA)