Drugs are a great technological advancement that save lives and improve the quality of life for the entire population. However, some drugs should be avoided and boycotted for both health and political reasons. Following are some commonly available drugs that should be boycotted by all Americans:

• acetaminophen (paracetamol, Tylenol, Anacin-3, Ny-Quil) - This is a pain fighting, anti-fever, and anti-inflammatory drug that is often substituted for aspirin. Overdoses can be fatal by damaging the liver causing acute liver failure, and it can cause kidney damage. It is the most common cause of liver failure in the U.S.. It is extremely toxic to cats and snakes. This drug is derived from coal tar and is potentially carcinogenic. Completely avoid this drug if possible.

• ibuprofen (Nurofen, Advil, Motrin) - This is a pain fighting, anti-fever, and anti-inflammatory drug that is often substituted for aspirin. This drug has cardiovascular risk, gastric bleeding risk, and should be avoided by people with inflammatory bowel disease. Overdoses can cause seizures, acute renal failure, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest.  Completely avoid this drug if possible.

• Weight Loss Drugs (Sibutramine, Orlistat, Bontril, Didrex, Meridia, Phentermine, Tenuate, Xenical) - All these appetite suppressants have potentially dangerous side effects. People often buy sugar free products believeing they will help them lose weight but these products usually continue aspartame which has been shown to cause weight gain and brain tumors in laboratory mice. The best way to lose weight is to eat healthy, eat less, and get daily exercise.

• Sex Drugs (viagra, cialis, levitra) - These drugs do help a man achieve an erection, however, they do have side effects including: headache, impaired vision, stroke, myocardial infarction, and sudden hearing loss. The best way to treat an erectile dysfunction is to treat the underlying causes, which are mostly likely related to bad diets, lack of exercise, or emotional disorders.

• Antidepressant Drugs (Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox, Cymbalta, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Zyban, Trazodone, Elavil, Mirtaxapine, Tofranil, etc.) - These drugs work on the mind to relieve depression the same way alcohol works on the mind to relieve social anxiety, and with equally dangerous side effects. People who take antidepressants often relapse back into depression after they stop taking these medications, and experience withdrawal symptoms. Side effects often include nausea, diarrhea, agitation, headaches, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, dry mouth, blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, tremors, skin rash, suicide, and weight gain. Studies have shown that healthful diets, sunlight, and exercise work better than these drugs, and without all the negative side effects.

• Vitamin Supplements - For people who do not consume a balanced diet can benefit from taking vitamin supplements. Vitamin supplements can provide many of the vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and amino acids needed to keep a body healthy. However, recent studies have shown that multi-vitamins provide no benefits for people who consume an adequate diet, and the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) can be toxic because they are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and are eliminated from the body much more slowly than the water soluble vitamins.

• Tobacco - (cigarettes, cigars, dipping, chewing, and snuffing) - All forms of tobacco are used to deliver the drug nicotine into the body. The side effects of tobacco use include: cancers, heart disease, lung disease, vascular disease, addiction, and hypertension. The following companies and products should be boycotted: Altria (Philip Morris, Parliament, Virginia Slims, Benson & Hedges, Alpine, Basic, Best, Bristol, Bucks, Cambridge, Chesterfield, Classic, Collector's Choice, English Ovals, Lark, L&M, Marlboro, Merit, Players, Saratoga). R.J. Reynolds (Winston, Camel, Salem, and Doral). Lorillard (Kent, True, Old Gold, Maverick, and Max).

• Illegal Drugs (marijuana, cocaine (crack), heroin, crystal meth, ecstasy, LSD, and PCP) - All these drugs have been shown to have some positive effects when used responsibly, however, the negative health, legal, and addictive effects far out weight the few positive effects. Most of the black-market illegal drugs are widely available in the U.S. and are imported and distributed by organized criminals. The drugs these criminal organizations sale are not regulated or taxed and they are therefore dangerous to consume and are a financial drain on our societies legal systems and health systems. If you use illegal drugs you will be supporting organized crime and these criminal organizations are undermining our system of constitutional government.

• Alcohol - (see boycott alcohol)