Long before Nikki’s journey with prescription medications began, I had a conversation with another parent at her elementary school. She worked for a company that distributed pharmaceutical information to medical offices. Curious about part‑time work, I asked whether the job required a degree or any special training. She told me she had neither. The more questions I asked, the more hesitant she became, pulling back from the details. Something about that exchange didn’t sit right with me, and I never pursued the job—but the conversation stayed with me.

Without realizing it, that moment became my first clue about how medications are actually promoted and prescribed.

Years later when Nikki was on mental health prescription medications, I watched a documentary about the opioid crisis that further opened my eyes to the broader world of prescription medications. It walked through how one particular opioid painkiller was developed, marketed, prescribed, and distributed—and it laid bare the forces that fueled the crisis.

Even though the documentary was only based on real events, with some details dramatized, the overall picture reflected a deeper truth. What struck me most was how healthcare providers received the information they relied on when prescribing that medication. Something about it clicked for me, and I couldn’t help but connect it to other prescription drugs as well.

As Nikki went deeper into the world of mental health prescription drugs, those early connections resurfaced. We quickly learned to recognize the pharmaceutical reps walking into the medical offices. At the same time, we noticed the steady stream of free samples Nikki’s counselor kept on hand—the same medications she routinely prescribed. We also recognized that the information being given regarding the prescriptions were straight out of a pharmaceutical commercial.

And the most alarming awareness we obtained was in reference to the kickbacks some healthcare providers received for prescribing a particular drug.