Final answer:
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating pharmacies and over-the-counter drug outlets, ensuring the safety and efficacy of drugs sold in the United States. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) within the FDA oversees the drug approval process. Over-the-counter drug promotions are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Step-by-step explanation:
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is the agency responsible for permitting pharmacies, over-the-counter drug outlets, and issuing other types of permits related to the sale and distribution of medications in the United States. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), a division within the FDA, specifically handles the regulation of new drugs, generic drugs, and over-the-counter drugs. Each of these types of drugs undergoes extensive scrutiny for safety and efficacy before approval and market release. The FDA also monitors these medicines post-approval to ensure ongoing safety.
While the FDA regulates the approval process and marketing of prescription and non-prescription drug products, the promotion for over-the-counter drugs falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The scrutiny by the FDA often means that companies must undergo lengthy and rigorous testing before their products can be approved for market access. This process serves to protect the public from unsafe medications, but it also has the side effect of delaying the availability of new drugs, which can be seen as a disadvantage for patients awaiting new treatments.