ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 10, 2012--
Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of Covidien
(NYSE: COV), today joined The
Partnership at Drugfree.org in supporting the “Wake Up to Medicine
Abuse” campaign. The initiative will address youth prescription medicine
abuse and how to prevent it. Announced in conjunction with Operation
UNITE’s National Rx Drug Abuse Summit this week in Orlando, Florida,
“Wake Up To Medicine Abuse” is a national education effort taking place
for the first time September 23-29, 2012.
“We must work together to end abuse and illicit diversion of
prescription pain medications by increasing awareness, expanding
education, fostering collaboration and promoting innovation,” said Mark
Trudeau, President, Mallinckrodt. “Together, through campaigns like
‘Wake Up to Medicine Abuse,’ we strive to ensure that only legitimate
patients have access to and appropriately use these important therapies.”
Concern over abuse and diversion of prescription pain medications has
grown significantly in the last decade, and the need for a serious
effort to fight this problem is well documented.
In 2010, Mallinckrodt launched the C.A.R.E.S.
(Collaborating and Acting Responsibly to Ensure Safety) AllianceSM,
a coalition of national patient safety, provider and drug diversion
organizations focused on reducing opioid pain medication abuse and
increasing responsible prescribing habits. Through the C.A.R.E.S.
Alliance website (www.caresalliance.org),
Mallinckrodt makes educational tools and resources aimed at helping to
reduce abuse available for prescribers, pharmacists and caregivers.
“Our work to prevent abuse and diversion of prescription products spans
a number of activities, including the ‘Wake Up to Medicine Abuse’
campaign. We strongly believe that collaboration must be at the core of
all efforts,” said Trudeau. “Just as no single party bears the sole
responsibility for the problem itself, we can all play a key role in
together ending this public health crisis.”
ABOUT COVIDIEN
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates
innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers
value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures,
distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product
lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical
Supplies. With 2011 revenue of $11.6 billion, Covidien has 41,000
employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold
in over 140 countries. Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of
Covidien, manufactures active pharmaceutical ingredients, including bulk
acetaminophen, opioid pain medications, nuclear and contrast media
diagnostic agents. Sales in 2011 were $2.0 billion. Please visit www.covidien.com
to learn more about our business.
Source: Covidien
Covidien
Lynn Phillips, 314-654-3263
Manager
Media
Relations
lynn.phillips@covidien.com
or
Coleman
Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343
Vice President
Investor Relations
cole.lannum@covidien.com
or
Stephen
Littlejohn, 314-654-6595
Vice President
Communications
stephen.littlejohn@covidien.com
or
Todd
Carpenter, 508-452-4363
Director
Investor Relations
todd.carpenter@covidien.com
