As long as information can flow freely through cyberspace, there will be urban myths to entertain us. Some myths entice us and beg us to believe!  However, many myths give us hope only to let us down in the end. The problem with health-related myths is that they affect our health and well-being. Acting on a false-truth can get us into serious trouble when it comes to medicine. Therefore, it is crucial that we steer clear of urban drug myths whenever possible.

So how do you tell if something is an urban drug myth or proven fact? It’s not always easy. Generally, if the source of the information is a reliable one, chances are the information is true. As mentioned in our September 2007 Newsletter, asking yourself three simple questions should help tell if the source is reliable or not;  1.) Who’s writing the information, 2.)What kind of information is available and 3.)Where is the information coming from. 

However, even reliable sources spread urban drug myths unintentionally and unwittingly. These sources usually have the best intentions in mind. Often, reputable health information sources compete to be the first to share good news from the latest study.  This is especially true when it comes to vitamins and natural remedies that don’t require rigorous testing before coming to market.

“Vitamin X shown to slash cholesterol in half!”, one headline might read. This is great news! But news like this should be taken with a grain of salt. Is this just one study that has come to this conclusion? Was this study sponsored by the company that makes Vitamin X? Does Vitamin X have serious side effects that have yet to be discovered?

When you learn to question information like this, you are practicing ‘evidence-based medicine’. Evidence-based medicine means using the best data available to make decisions about your health.  When you make health decisions using evidence-based medicine, you help ensure that you receive the safest, most current therapy for your condition.

So go ahead, be skeptical! Question what you hear and don’t believe everything you read. And, if you ever need help sifting through all of the information out there, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.