Drugs routinely prescribed to PWAs are often debilitating, with side-effects that duplicate AIDS symptoms. Here, critics of AZT are depicted as sexually unattractive nerds. Many such ads are funded by pharmaceutical companies.

Viatical settlement companies purchase (at discount) the life insurance policies of people diagnosed as terminally ill. Many of their ads exploit the theme of immediate gratification that was so popular in the fast-track pre-AIDS days. One ad repeats the capitalized phrase CASH NOW over and over. "Your NEEDS must be met...NOW. Your DREAMS must be fulfilled...NOW." Here, a letter purporting to be from a satisfied client refers to a new car, New Orleans vacation and other personal "spoils".