> I'm pretty sure we're the only country that has commercials for "Opioid Induced Constipation" drugs as well.

Well, we're one of only two countries in the world that allow direct to consumer advertising for drugs at all, so your statement is probably true.

(New Zealand is the other one for those curious, with Canada having some limited things they allow).

As a kiwi myself, I'm genuinely curious about what drugs are advertised in NZ. I can't recall any such advertisements, apart from maybe flu pills that contain pseudo-ephedrine?

We don't have many - panadol & ibuprofen combos, viagra generics, branded asthma drugs. Generally they purchase ad spots outside of prime time (and likely with more regularity on channels like One & Prime, where there's a slightly older audience.

My hypothesis there would be, those people are prequalified—the fact that they're consuming opioids means that they 1. have money and 2. are willing to spend that money on drugs to fix their suffering. Selling them an add-on drug that relieves the suffering from the first drug seems like "easy money."

Or commercials for pharmaceuticals at all.