An estimated 128,000 Americans die each year as a result of taking medications as prescribed and is the fourth leading cause of death among Americans. (*Source: Thomas Moore, Institute of Safe Medication Practices.)
Our Mission
Woody Matters is an independent voice in the everyday world championing for drug safety, pharma transparency & consumer rights through advocacy, art and education to create a safer future for generations.
Health care priorities should be driven by safety, not industry profits.
No family should say, “How did I not know this could happen?” about drug side effects after a loved one dies or is harmed.
Informed people are more powerful than any industry.
WoodyMatters was launched shortly after the death of Woody Witczak of a Zoloft-induced suicide in 2003 with the single mission of getting FDA black box suicide warnings added to all SSRI antidepressants. That goal was achieved in 2004 for children (18 and younger) and young adults in 2006 (up to age 24); since then, WoodyMatters has continued its work as a non-profit drug safety advocacy organization focused on saving patients from adverse effects of unsafe medical products. We make sure the every day, real world perspective is represented in healthcare conversations. Our lives are at stake.
WoodyMatters is not anti-medication. We are pro informed choice and transparency. It is important that as a society we have access to unbiased honest information about the prescription drugs that we take. It can be the difference between life and death.
WoodyMatters is an active member of the Patient, Consumer, Public Health Coalition based in Washington DC, which works closely on FDA/Congressional legislative issues around pharmaceutical and devices (none of these organizations take industry funding).
Our goal is to create industry accountability through transparency to prevent unnecessary deaths and shift the power to the people.
Warned of self-harm, suicide or suicidal ideation
Warned of violence, mania, psychosis, hostility, aggression or homicidal ideation
Warned of death or increased risk of death
Linked to emotional problems to the drugs
Warned of addiction or
withdrawal effects
Kim Witczak / Read Kim's Bio
