The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "pill" ...
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Prescription Drug
An investigation into the prescription drug epidemic on New York's Long Island. Newsday exposes the failure by the region's doctors to use a state database that identifies patients going to multiple doctors and pharmacies to get pills.
Tags: prescription; drug; pharmacy; doctors; pills; New York
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Peddling Pills
"'Peddling Pills' investigated the relationship between doctors and the country's 100,000 pharmaceutical sale representatives, exploring how drug reps have continued to influence doctors' prescribing habits despite a much-publicized earlier crackdown on their sales tactics."
Tags: pharmaceutical sales; medicine; Big Pharma; ethics; physicians; doctors; drug representatives; drug rep; pharmaceutical marketing
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Stem Cell, Contraception Groups paid Huck
Financial disclosure statements from Mike Huckabee show he accepted thousands of dollars from public health groups advocating causes considered anathema to the conservative activists whose support he used to gain momentum for the 2008 Presidential candidacy.
Tags: Speaking fees; Novo Nordisk; Public Health Institute; Grant Makers in Health; GOP; morning-after pill;
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Potent Pills: Foster Children and Mood Altering drugs
"While Monroe Country NY has a foster care medical clinic that is considered a national model, our research showed an alarming increase in the prescription of psychotropic medications to foster children in the county."
Tags: foster care; medical; clinic; child protective services; psychotropic; modd-altering drugs
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Pill Mills
"In a hidden camera investigation, CBS News exposes how rogue pain clinics and fake doctors fuel the widespread abuse of prescription drugs."
Tags: pain medication; doctors; unlicensed; Texas; Drug Enforcement Administration;
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Bitter Pills
"Medicines for cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure - even the front-line defense against bird flu - are being counterfeited by international rings." Dateline NBC examines how "loopholes in existing government regulations have allowed the fakes to reach U.S. drug stores - even major chains like CVS and Rite Aid." The investigation into this potential health risk found, among other things, a cocaine smuggler who now counterfeits Lipitor "because there was less risk and more money." Also, photos of counterfeit operations revealed some "based in caves, others using drywall, cement and highway paint among their ingredients."
Tags: Counterfeit drugs; counterfeit medicines; drug tracking; health risks
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From the Inside Out
Dateline NBC goes undercover to investigate the infomercial industry, which, while "long a target of criticism and government intervention, generates an estimated $90 billion a year in sales." The Dateline team created a pill that would have no effect on skin, but which they wished to sell as "purported to erase lines and wrinkles from the skin." They found a producer, and actresses and a doctor were hired to give false testimonials for the infomercial, which never aired. Experts told dateline that such an infomercial had a potential profit of $10 million before the Federal Trade Commission made contact to check on the product's effectiveness.
Tags: Moisturol; infomercials; consumer fraud; Federal Trade Commission; Nestle's Quik
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Generic Drugs: Shop Around For the Best Deals
Consumer Reports examines the high cost of generic drugs, with the understanding that "some generic drugs cost pharmacies just pennies per pill, but they can turn around and sell them to people who lack insurance for as much as they wish." Consumer Reports asked 132 pharmacies around the U.S. their prices for five common prescription generic drugs. Costco is the least expensive pharmacy, charging $52 for a 30-day supply. Online distributor teldrug.com was the most expensive, charging $228 for the same generic drugs. The story gives consumers this information to aid in their search for the best deal on generic drugs.
Tags: generic drugs; price gouging; pharmacies; Costco; teldrug.com
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Sleeping Pills: Are They Worth the Rosk?
As manufacturers have increased their spending on advertisement for sleeping pills, the rate of sleep drug prescriptions rose 32 percent between 2001 and 2005. But better and safer remedies might be available, and Consumer Reports asks if consumers might be turning to the pills too early.
Tags: Sleeping pills; Lunesta; drug dependency
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Prescription Privacy
In Indianapolis and all over the nation, drug stores were found to be violating state and federal laws by disposing of customers' legally-protected health records improperly. Some drug stores were just throwing away health records into dumpsters, where it could be accessed by anyone that would care to look in there.
Tags: Margie Kerr; drug store; medication; pills; pharmacy; pharmacies; drug addict; health record