Originally used by German soldiers in World War II to ward off hunger and exhaustion, today amphetamines are gulped down primarily by women to curb appetite for weight loss. In general, the medical profession has contributed to this addiction. Paulo in 1997 visited 107 doctors. Less than a third required a medical exam before prescribing amphetamines. Pharmaceuticals industry tactics are also part of the problem.
Drug companies offer monetary rewards to pharmacists and counter attendants for high sales.
Some pharmacies offer price club discounts for frequent purchasers. Advertisements for drugs such as the worm medicine Zentel have at times promoted unnecessary treatments. Worms are not contagious but some Zentel campaigns encourage the treatment of the entire family of the patient. The drug companies also target doctors to boost sales. Medical studies show that a healthy person needs between 3 or 4 prescription drugs a year.