A national survey of nearly 3,000 adults finds many mistakenly believe new prescription drugs are safer than those with long track records.
One in four believes the FDA allows only drugs that don't have serious side effects.
The FDA approves a new drug when the benefits outweigh any known risks.
That approval doesn't mean the drug's benefits are any greater than drugs already on the market.
The new survey is in the "Archives of Internal Medicine."
