New Hampshire adults strongly support the federal government legalizing the purchasing of prescription drugs from Canada

Survey Center, UNH

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

  THE GRANITE STATE POLL THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE   NH – MAKE CANADIAN PRESCRIPTIONS LEGAL  By: Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D.  603/862-2226 FOR RELEASE  Dennis M. Junius, M.A. April 30, 2004  UNH Survey Center   www.unh.edu/survey-center    DURHAM, NH – New Hampshire adults strongly support the federal government legalizing the purchasing of prescription drugs from Canada.  These findings are based on the latest Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.  The Granite State Poll is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire.  Five hundred forty-two (542) randomly selected adults were interviewed by telephone between April 19 and April 26, 2004.  The margin of sampling error for the survey is +/-4.2 percent.  (For more detailed results, visit the Survey Center web site at www.unh.edu/survey-center/pd43004.pdf)  Legalize Prescription Purchasing from Canada  For many years, a growing number of seniors in New England have taken the trip north to buy prescription drugs in Canada, where they can be purchased at significantly lower prices than in the United States.  Governors in many states, including New Hampshire, have also looked at purchasing drugs in Canada as a way of reducing health care costs for state employees.  It is not currently legal under federal law for either states or individuals to buy prescription drugs in Canada, although legislation has been introduced in Congress to permit individuals to buy prescription drugs north of the border.   The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has argued that the safety of prescription drugs from other countries cannot be assured.  New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson has asked for a waiver from the FDA so that the state could buy drugs in Canada for Medicaid patients and state prisoners.  In the latest Granite State Poll, New Hampshire adults were asked if they favored or opposed the federal government making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada - 81 percent support making this legal, 14 percent oppose, and 5 percent are unsure. Large majorities of people in all political and demographic groups support making the purchase of prescription drugs from Canada legal.  “Governor Benson is smart to push for a waiver on fiscal grounds as it would save the State of New Hampshire a lot of money if prescription costs could be reduced,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center.  “It is also a smart move politically given public support for the idea.”  As of now, most people in New Hampshire have obeyed the law.  Only 4 percent say they have ever purchased prescription drugs from Canada and only 10 percent of adults 65 and over have purchased prescription drugs in Canada.    Granite State Poll Methodology  These findings are based on the most recent Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center from April 19 to April 26, 2004.  A random sample of 542 New Hampshire adults was interviewed by telephone.  In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 4.2 percent.  Results reported for other subgroups have potential for somewhat larger variation than those for the entire population.  The data have been weighted to adjust for numbers of adults and telephone lines within households, respondent sex, and region of the state.  In addition to potential sampling error, all surveys have other potential sources of non-sampling error including question order effects, question wording effects, and non-response.  Federal Government Legalizing Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada (NH Adults)  "Recently, there has been discussion about making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada.  Some people, including Governor Benson, say that this would save seniors and the state money.  Other people, including the US Food and Drug Administration, have argued that the safety of prescription drugs from other countries cannot be assured.  What about you ... do you favor or oppose the federal government making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada?"   April 2004 Favor 81% Neutral / DK 5 Oppose 14 (N) (541)   Federal Government Legalizing Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada (NH Adults)  "Have you or has anyone in your household ever bought prescription drugs from Canada to get a better price, or not?"   April 2004 Yes 4% No 96 (N) (541)      Favor/Oppose Federal Government Legalize Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada   Don’t Know/  Favor Oppose Not Sure (N) STATEWIDE  81% 14% 5% 541  Registered Democrat 85  12 2  98 Undeclared  81  14 5 201 Registered Republican 82  13 4 136 Not registered  73  17  10 103  Democrat  83  14 3 221 Independent 79  11  10  94 Republican  79  16 5 217  Liberal 82  16 3 106 Moderate  82  14 4 210 Conservative  79  16 5 182  Union household 84  11 5  72 Non-union 80  15 5 466  5 Years or less in NH 79  17 4  73 6 to 10 years 89 8 3  61 11 to 20 years  71  21 8 114 More than 20 years  83  12 5 289  18 to 34  71  24 5 128 35 to 49  86 9 5 205 50 to 64  82  13 5 127 65 and over 80  15 5  69  Male  82  13 5 263 Female  80  15 5 279  High school or less 77  17 6 169 Some college  81  11 8 119 College graduate  82  15 2 170 Post-graduate 85  12 3  80  Less than $30K  75  18 8  76 $30K to $60K  84  11 5 147 $60K to $75K  84  15 1  47 $75K to $100K 71  21 8  63 More than $100K 83  12 4  82  Married 83  12 5 359 Divorced/separated  77  14 9  79 Never married 76  22 2  99  Protestant  83  12 4 180 Catholic  82  13 5 171 Other 77  17 6 177  Attend 1 or more/week 80  14 6 130 1-2 times a month 84  13 2  69 Less often  80  14 6 158 Never 81  14 5 174  Northern NH 80  17 3  71 Western NH  86 8 5  51 Central/Lakes 78  15 7  85 Hillsborough County 78  14 8 164 Seacoast  84  14 3 170  1st Cong. District  80  15 5 269 2nd Cong. District  81  13 6 273  1st E.C. District 79  17 4 103 2nd E.C. District 82  13 5 119 3rd E.C. District 84  13 3 102 4th E.C. District 80  13 7 102 5th E.C. District 81  12 8 111  You or Household Member Ever Bought Prescription Drugs from Canada   Yes No (N) STATEWIDE 4% 96% 541  Registered Democrat  6  94  97 Undeclared 4  96 201 Registered Republican  3  97 137 Not registered 5  95 103  Democrat 6  94 220 Independent  4  96  94 Republican 3  97 218  Liberal  4  96 105 Moderate 3  97 210 Conservative 5  95 182  Union household  5  95  72 Non-union  4  96 466  5 Years or less in NH  4  96  73 6 to 10 years  9  91  61 11 to 20 years 2  98 114 More than 20 years 4  96 289  18 to 34 2  98 128 35 to 49 3  97 204 50 to 64 6  94 127 65 and over 10  90  70  Male 3  97 263 Female 6  94 279  High school or less  4  96 170 Some college 5  95 119 College graduate 3  97 169 Post-graduate  5  95  80  Less than $30K 4  96  75 $30K to $60K 7  93 148 $60K to $75K 3  97  47 $75K to $100K  2  98  63 More than $100K  3  97  82  Married  5  95 359 Divorced/separated 5  95  79 Never married  1  99  99  Protestant 8  92 181 Catholic 3  97 171 Other  2  98 176  Attend 1 or more/week  5  95 130 1-2 times a month  6  94  69 Less often 3  97 158 Never  5  95 174  Northern NH  6  94  71 Western NH 5  95  51 Central/Lakes  4  96  85 Hillsborough County  4  96 164 Seacoast 4  96 170  1st Cong. District 5  95 269 2nd Cong. District 4  96 273  1st E.C. District  6  94 103 2nd E.C. District  3  97 119 3rd E.C. District  6  94 102 4th E.C. District  4  96 102 5th E.C. District  4  96 111    

NH - Make Canadian Prescriptions Legal 4/30/2004

University of New Hampshire

 
 
THE GRANITE STATE POLL 
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE 
 
 
NH – MAKE CANADIAN PRESCRIPTIONS LEGAL 
 
By: Andrew E. Smith, Ph.D.  603/862-2226 FOR RELEASE 
 Dennis M. Junius, M.A. April 30, 2004 
 UNH Survey Center  
 www.unh.edu/survey-center 
 
 
 DURHAM, NH – New Hampshire adults strongly support the federal government legalizing the purchasing of 
prescription drugs from Canada. 
 These findings are based on the latest Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey 
Center.  The Granite State Poll is sponsored by the University of New Hampshire.  Five hundred forty-two (542) randomly 
selected adults were interviewed by telephone between April 19 and April 26, 2004.  The margin of sampling error for the 
survey is +/-4.2 percent.  (For more detailed results, visit the Survey Center web site at www.unh.edu/survey-
center/pd43004.pdf) 
 
Legalize Prescription Purchasing from Canada 
 For many years, a growing number of seniors in New England have taken the trip north to buy prescription drugs in 
Canada, where they can be purchased at significantly lower prices than in the United States.  Governors in many states, 
including New Hampshire, have also looked at purchasing drugs in Canada as a way of reducing health care costs for state 
employees.  It is not currently legal under federal law for either states or individuals to buy prescription drugs in Canada, 
although legislation has been introduced in Congress to permit individuals to buy prescription drugs north of the border.  
 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has argued that the safety of prescription drugs from other countries 
cannot be assured.  New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson has asked for a waiver from the FDA so that the state could buy 
drugs in Canada for Medicaid patients and state prisoners.  In the latest Granite State Poll, New Hampshire adults were asked 
if they favored or opposed the federal government making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada - 81 
percent support making this legal, 14 percent oppose, and 5 percent are unsure. Large majorities of people in all political and 
demographic groups support making the purchase of prescription drugs from Canada legal. 
 “Governor Benson is smart to push for a waiver on fiscal grounds as it would save the State of New Hampshire a lot 
of money if prescription costs could be reduced,” said Andrew Smith, Director of the UNH Survey Center.  “It is also a smart 
move politically given public support for the idea.” 
 As of now, most people in New Hampshire have obeyed the law.  Only 4 percent say they have ever purchased 
prescription drugs from Canada and only 10 percent of adults 65 and over have purchased prescription drugs in Canada. 
 
 
 
Granite State Poll Methodology 
 These findings are based on the most recent Granite State Poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire 
Survey Center from April 19 to April 26, 2004.  A random sample of 542 New Hampshire adults was interviewed by 
telephone.  In 95 of 100 cases, the statewide estimates will be accurate to plus or minus 4.2 percent.  Results reported for 
other subgroups have potential for somewhat larger variation than those for the entire population. 
 The data have been weighted to adjust for numbers of adults and telephone lines within households, respondent sex, 
and region of the state.  In addition to potential sampling error, all surveys have other potential sources of non-sampling error 
including question order effects, question wording effects, and non-response. 
 
Federal Government Legalizing Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada 
(NH Adults) 
 
"Recently, there has been discussion about making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada.  Some people, 
including Governor Benson, say that this would save seniors and the state money.  Other people, including the US Food and 
Drug Administration, have argued that the safety of prescription drugs from other countries cannot be assured.  What about 
you ... do you favor or oppose the federal government making it legal for people to buy prescription drugs from Canada?" 
 
 April 2004 
Favor 81% 
Neutral / DK 5 
Oppose 14 
(N) (541) 
 
 
Federal Government Legalizing Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada 
(NH Adults) 
 
"Have you or has anyone in your household ever bought prescription drugs from Canada to get a better price, or not?" 
 
 April 2004 
Yes 4% 
No 96 
(N) (541) 
 
 
 
 
 Favor/Oppose Federal Government Legalize Buying Prescription Drugs from Canada 
 
 Don’t Know/ 
 Favor Oppose Not Sure (N) 
STATEWIDE  81% 14% 5% 541 
 
Registered Democrat 85  12 2  98 
Undeclared  81  14 5 201 
Registered Republican 82  13 4 136 
Not registered  73  17  10 103 
 
Democrat  83  14 3 221 
Independent 79  11  10  94 
Republican  79  16 5 217 
 
Liberal 82  16 3 106 
Moderate  82  14 4 210 
Conservative  79  16 5 182 
 
Union household 84  11 5  72 
Non-union 80  15 5 466 
 
5 Years or less in NH 79  17 4  73 
6 to 10 years 89 8 3  61 
11 to 20 years  71  21 8 114 
More than 20 years  83  12 5 289 
 
18 to 34  71  24 5 128 
35 to 49  86 9 5 205 
50 to 64  82  13 5 127 
65 and over 80  15 5  69 
 
Male  82  13 5 263 
Female  80  15 5 279 
 
High school or less 77  17 6 169 
Some college  81  11 8 119 
College graduate  82  15 2 170 
Post-graduate 85  12 3  80 
 
Less than $30K  75  18 8  76 
$30K to $60K  84  11 5 147 
$60K to $75K  84  15 1  47 
$75K to $100K 71  21 8  63 
More than $100K 83  12 4  82 
 
Married 83  12 5 359 
Divorced/separated  77  14 9  79 
Never married 76  22 2  99 
 
Protestant  83  12 4 180 
Catholic  82  13 5 171 
Other 77  17 6 177 
 
Attend 1 or more/week 80  14 6 130 
1-2 times a month 84  13 2  69 
Less often  80  14 6 158 
Never 81  14 5 174 
 
Northern NH 80  17 3  71 
Western NH  86 8 5  51 
Central/Lakes 78  15 7  85 
Hillsborough County 78  14 8 164 
Seacoast  84  14 3 170 
 
1st Cong. District  80  15 5 269 
2nd Cong. District  81  13 6 273 
 
1st E.C. District 79  17 4 103 
2nd E.C. District 82  13 5 119 
3rd E.C. District 84  13 3 102 
4th E.C. District 80  13 7 102 
5th E.C. District 81  12 8 111 
 
You or Household Member Ever Bought Prescription Drugs from Canada 
 
 Yes No (N) 
STATEWIDE 4% 96% 541 
 
Registered Democrat  6  94  97 
Undeclared 4  96 201 
Registered Republican  3  97 137 
Not registered 5  95 103 
 
Democrat 6  94 220 
Independent  4  96  94 
Republican 3  97 218 
 
Liberal  4  96 105 
Moderate 3  97 210 
Conservative 5  95 182 
 
Union household  5  95  72 
Non-union  4  96 466 
 
5 Years or less in NH  4  96  73 
6 to 10 years  9  91  61 
11 to 20 years 2  98 114 
More than 20 years 4  96 289 
 
18 to 34 2  98 128 
35 to 49 3  97 204 
50 to 64 6  94 127 
65 and over 10  90  70 
 
Male 3  97 263 
Female 6  94 279 
 
High school or less  4  96 170 
Some college 5  95 119 
College graduate 3  97 169 
Post-graduate  5  95  80 
 
Less than $30K 4  96  75 
$30K to $60K 7  93 148 
$60K to $75K 3  97  47 
$75K to $100K  2  98  63 
More than $100K  3  97  82 
 
Married  5  95 359 
Divorced/separated 5  95  79 
Never married  1  99  99 
 
Protestant 8  92 181 
Catholic 3  97 171 
Other  2  98 176 
 
Attend 1 or more/week  5  95 130 
1-2 times a month  6  94  69 
Less often 3  97 158 
Never  5  95 174 
 
Northern NH  6  94  71 
Western NH 5  95  51 
Central/Lakes  4  96  85 
Hillsborough County  4  96 164 
Seacoast 4  96 170 
 
1st Cong. District 5  95 269 
2nd Cong. District 4  96 273 
 
1st E.C. District  6  94 103 
2nd E.C. District  3  97 119 
3rd E.C. District  6  94 102 
4th E.C. District  4  96 102 
5th E.C. District  4  96 111 
 
 
 


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NH - Make Canadian Prescriptions Legal 4/30/2004

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