Free samples of medications given out by pharmaceutical companies to physicians may actually harm children, a recent Brown study found.
The study, published Oct. 4 in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, analyzed the results of the 2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, which asked 10,295 respondents under the age of 18 about receiving free drug samples.
The study found that free samples could pose a significant health risk for children. Of the 15 most-distributed medications, four had been black box listed, meaning the Food and Drug Administration considers them unsafe, and two others were labeled as Schedule II controlled medications, indicating they pose a high risk for dependence and abuse.
"It really just promotes the inequity in the system," Leleiko said of drug companies providing free samples to children.
The study also found that children from poorer or uninsured backgrounds were no more likely to receive free samples than their more affluent or insured counterparts.
"It's an access issue," said Neal Leleiko, a senior author of the study and a professor of pediatrics at Alpert Medical School. "The free samples do not equalize or make better the access to medicine to those who are under-insured," he said, pointing out that in general, only those who had access to medical care to begin with are able to get free samples of medicines.
Leleiko also said while the practice seems safe and a "perk of the system," in reality it costs the health care system and individuals a great deal because it often causes people to overlook cheaper alternatives.
Though he described doctors as "well-meaning," he said free samples can affect doctors' prescribing habits, raising potential concerns .
Free drug samples are one of the most important marketing tools for drug companies. But, Leleiko said, "It doesn't serve patients, and that's what we're concerned about."
"Personally, I would like to see the whole system of pharmaceutical representatives giving free samples to physicians abandoned," he said, adding that he would be pleased to see it happen either voluntarily or through regulation.
