We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "The Medway Handyman"
saying something like:

Face it; It's sold in 180+ countries worldwide and they sell $216.8 million
(£140+ million) worth a year.

And thats all down to the clever marketing of a product that either doesn't
work or actually causes problems?

Oversold, overhyped and over here.

And all those customers are stupid?

Yes. For uncritically accepting the hype.