Letters: Seduced by snake oil

Re “What would Katie do?,” Opinion, Dec. 18

Julia Belluz and Steven J. Hoffman say studies show that our brains and psyches appear to be hard-wired to trust celebrities promoting miracle medicines and cures.

Why stop at illogical addictions to celebrity advice? Every day we are bombarded with ads hawking prescription drugs with potential side effects so horrific that no clear-thinking person would consider taking them. Yet we run to our doctors and ask for them.

Why do so many people take dangerous drugs for conditions that could be addressed by diet change? It’s illogical, but humans will buy any cure or snake oil that does not require them to give up the lifestyles they like.

Celebrities do not have a corner on that market.

Margie St.Anthony

Cathedral City

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