It’s a good thing Bill Sorrell is telling the whole story here – and not overlooking any pertinent facts that might change the impact of his press release.  Oh no, because that would only be presenting part of the story, and that would be irresponsible for a leader like Sorrell. From Rutland Herald:

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are using their vast marketing budgets to influence the types of medications prescribed by Vermont doctors, Attorney General Bill Sorrell said Tuesday.

The pharmaceutical industry spent $3 million last year to promote its products in Vermont, according to a report from the Office of the Attorney General. The marketing expenditures, up by 33 percent over Fiscal Year 2006, represent the highest single-year spending since the state began tracking data in 2003.

“This report shows, once again, that the pharmaceutical industry has too much influence over the practice of medicine in Vermont,” Sorrell said in a statement. “It is particularly troubling that the industry is paying large sums of money to influence prescribing practices involving psychiatric drugs.”

Drug makers paid out more money to psychiatrists last year than any other type of doctor in Vermont. And four of the five most heavily marketed drugs are used to treat either attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or depression, the report found.

“When you start looking at the particular types of payments being made, the heavy weight toward psychiatrists as well as psychiatric drugs, it does become particularly troubling,” said Assistant Attorney General Julie Brill.

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