News Release
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Continues Efforts to Fight Medicine Abuse with The Partnership® at Drugfree.org
Company renews commitment to support The Medicine Abuse Project™ in its
second year
ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 3, 2013--
Mallinckrodt
(NYSE: MNK) announced today that it will continue its collaboration with
The Partnership at Drugfree.org for a second year in support of The
Medicine Abuse Project. The campaign brings together families,
communities, industry, health care professionals, educators, law
enforcement and government officials to help save lives by preventing
teen medicine abuse. Mallinckrodt is renewing its support as a Gold
Sponsor, extending the Company’s strong commitment to fighting abuse,
diversion, and misuse of powerful pain medications.
“Mallinckrodt is dedicated to providing safe and effective medications
for the treatment of patients with pain, and equally committed to
collaborating with organizations like The Partnership at Drugfree.org to
curb diversion, misuse, and abuse,” said Mark Trudeau, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. “Support of The
Medicine Abuse Project is one example of our broad engagement to prevent
medicine abuse and ensure access only to the patients who need
treatment. We think this project has been especially effective, given
the range of stakeholders involved – from public health officials to
community groups to law enforcement – since collaboration is critical to
addressing this vital issue.”
“Medicine abuse is one of the most significant and preventable
adolescent health problems facing our families today,” said Steve
Pasierb, President and CEO of The Partnership at Drugfree.org. “The
Partnership is grateful for socially responsible companies like
Mallinckrodt whose support has helped us launch The Medicine Abuse
Project and mobilize both parents and the public to learn about the
problem, talk with their kids about the dangers of misuse and abuse of
prescription drugs, and properly monitor, safeguard, and dispose of
excess prescription drugs in their homes.”
A recent study by The Partnership for Drugfree.org found that one in
four teens in the U.S. (24 percent) misused or abused a prescription
drug at least once in their lifetime, a 33 percent increase since 2008.
The Medicine Abuse Project aims to reverse that trend by empowering
parents to educate their children on the risks of abusing medicine, as
well as safeguarding and properly disposing of unused medications.
The Project’s overarching goal by 2017 is to prevent half a million
teens from abusing medicine. Phase I of the campaign, launched in
September 2012, began raising awareness of the issue by asking
stakeholders to take a Pledge against medicine abuse. To date, more than
7,200 people have taken the Pledge. Through media and digital
engagement, advocacy, and community outreach efforts, such as National
Drug Take-Back Day, the campaign has reached millions of Americans in an
effort to achieve its goal. For more information, visit
drugfree.org/MedicineAbuseProject.
ABOUT MALLINCKRODT
Mallinckrodt is a leading global specialty pharmaceuticals business that
develops, manufactures, markets, and distributes specialty
pharmaceutical products and medical imaging agents. The Company’s
Specialty Pharmaceuticals segment includes branded and generic drugs,
and the Global Medical Imaging segment includes contrast media and
nuclear imaging agents. Mallinckrodt has approximately 5,500 employees
worldwide with direct sales in roughly 50 countries and distribution in
approximately 40 countries. The Company’s 2012 revenue totaled $2.1
billion. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.
Source: Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt
Lynn Phillips, 314-654-3263
Manager, Media
Relations
lynn.phillips@mallinckrodt.com
or
Meredith
Fischer, 314-654-6595
Senior Vice President, Communications
meredith.fischer@mallinckrodt.com
or
John
Moten, 314-654-6650
Vice President, Investor Relations
john.moten@mallinckrodt.com