By Dr. John Reizer
When the survivors finally accessed the historical records and thumbed through the history books, they were surprised to discover what had truly ended a modern-day civilization.
Historians might have thought a civilization ended because of massive mushroom clouds, invading armies, or falling asteroids.
But boy were they wrong.
The collapse came eerily quietly. It began with advertisements that promised longer lives, sharper minds, peaceful sleep, effortless weight loss, endless energy, and freedom from every ache and worry.
Each year, powerful pharmaceutical corporations unveiled new “breakthrough” medications, insisting that every problem society’s members were dealing with was a new disease waiting to be chemically treated.
Governments became overwhelmed by lobbyists and the profits to be made, leading them to loosen safety regulations on all pharmaceutical products.
Independent scientists who raised legitimate concerns about such nefarious practices were routinely dismissed as being alarmists and conspiracy theorists while catchy marketing campaigns filled every television screen in every home.
At first, the medicines seemed miraculous. Then the side effects appeared almost out of nowhere.
Many drugs weakened immune systems while others silently damaged the liver and other viscera. Still others caused neurological disorders years after patients began taking them.
Instead of withdrawing or recalling the products, the drug companies introduced even more prescriptions to treat the complications caused by the earlier products. It was a vicious cycle that kept feeding itself repeatedly.
Within two generations, nearly every citizen had become dependent on a cabinet full of medications. Few in society questioned the medical profession’s prescription drug practices at the time.
Direct marketing advertisements to the general public assured people that every new pill represented another ray of hope.
In reality, it represented another step toward humanity’s extinction.
Hospitals overflowed with sick patients and entire cities grew eerily quiet as different illnesses spread faster than doctors could comprehend.
In the meantime, birth rates nosedived, while mysterious organ failures claimed millions more.
Of course, the pharma corporations all denied responsibility until it was far too late. By the time the truth was undeniable, there were hardly any people left to hear it.
Now, centuries later, a handful of survivors wandered through abandoned pharmacies where shelves still displayed drug boxes promising healthier, happier lives.
The slogans remained untouched beneath layers of dust, reminders of a civilization that had mistaken the consumption of drugs as a pathway to good health.
One child held up an old drug bottle and asked, “If these were supposed to save everyone… what the heck happened?”
Another survivor looked across the empty pharmacy. “They must have forgotten,” she said softly, “that science serves humanity only when honesty is valued more than profit.”
And there in the stillness that followed, a distant breeze gently carried away the last drug advertisement that was ever heard.
Are you looking for a quick, interesting read?
It’s vacation time, and summer is winding down. Are you going on a beach trip or headed on a flight somewhere else and don’t have the time to invest in a full-length novel?
Give one of my novellas a try. They’re all quick reads with fascinating plots designed to be devoured in a few hours or less.
Happy reading!
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Upcoming Fiction from John Reizer
Truth Engines is a bold collection of science fiction shorts that acknowledges the hidden realities currently affecting humanity. Blending imagination with clever storytelling, these writings explore a wide range of important subjects currently impacting all human beings.
The Bike Courier (October 31st
Hunted by an all-seeing surveillance network and powerful forces desperate to recover three mysterious data chips he is carrying, Dave Morrison, the bike courier, is forced into a futuristic city’s hidden underground tunnel system in an attempt to stay alive.
Somewhere Between Rome and Home (2027)
“Somewhere Between Rome and Home” is a contemporary romance novella by John Reizer that will be released on February 14th, 2027.
The story follows two characters, architect Nathan Wells and high-school English teacher Stephanie Bentley, who become stranded in Rome and stay at the same small hotel after missing two different flight connections back to the States. A shared breakfast sparks an unexpected romantic connection between the two.
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