Pharmaceuticals and Society

Drawing on the latest international sociological research, this monograph takes a critical look at contemporary developments, discourses, and debate on pharmaceuticals and society. Key issues covered include pharmaceuticals and medicalization and the science and politics of drug development, testing, and regulation Investigates the constructions of pharmaceuticals in professional and popular culture and the meaning and use of medications in everyday life Investigates pharmaceuticals, consumerism, and citizenship and the impact of innovation and expectations regarding pharmaceutical futures Written in a lively, accessible style, with many engaging and important insights from key international figures in the field

1. The sociology of pharmaceuticals: progress and prospects: Simon J. Williams, Jonathan Gabe and Peter Davis. 2. From Lydia Pinkham to Queen Levitra: direct-to-consumer advertising and medicalisation: Peter Conrad and Valerie Leiter. 3. Waking up to sleepiness: Modafinil, the media and the pharmaceuticalisation of everyday/night life: Simon J. Williams, Clive Seale, Sharon Boden, Pam Lowe and Deborah Lynn Steinberg. 4. Pharma in the bedroom . . . and the kitchen. . . . The pharmaceuticalisation of daily life: Nick J. Fox and Katie J. Ward. 5. Sociology of pharmaceuticals development and regulation: a realist empirical research programme: John Abraham. 6. Sex, drugs, and politics: the HPV vaccine for cervical cancer: Monica J. Casper and Laura M. Carpenter. 7. New forms of citizenship and socio-political inclusion: accessing antiretroviral therapy in a Rio de Janeiro favela: Fabian Cataldo. 8. Over-the-counter medicines: professional expertise and consumer discourses: Fiona A. Stevenson, Miranda Leontowitsch and Catherine Duggan. 9. In whose interest? Relationships between health consumer groups and the pharmaceutical industry in the UK: Kathryn Jones. 10. The great ambivalence: factors likely to affect service user and public acceptability of the pharmacogenomics of antidepressant medication: Michael Barr and Diana Rose. 11. Shifting paradigms? Reflections on regenerative medicine, embryonic stem cells and pharmaceuticals: Steven P. Wainwright, Mike Michael and Clare Williams. Index.