Jazz Pharmaceuticals Announces Support for National Campaign Designed to Curb Prescription Drug Abuse

DUBLIN, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: JAZZ) announced today its support of The Partnership at Drugfree.org's recently launched national action campaign, The Medicine Abuse Project. The initiative is intended as a multi-year public awareness and education campaign designed to curb abuse of prescription medicine among teens. 

A new study conducted by The Partnership at Drugfree.org found that medicine abuse is a growing problem among teens in the U.S., with one in six teens taking medicine to get high or change his or her mood.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses now surpass car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., and opioid pain relievers are responsible for more overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined.

"The need for a serious national medicine abuse prevention effort and our strong commitment to patient safety are the reasons we became an active supporter in The Medicine Abuse Project," said Bruce Cozadd, chairman and chief executive officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals.  "As a specialty biopharmaceutical company that makes products for highly complicated and specialized disease states, we understand the importance of incorporating systems to ensure the safe and appropriate use of our products.  We believe that we can make a meaningful difference in this effort to combat medicine abuse."

"The majority of teens who abuse medicines get them from family and friends," said Steve Pasierb, president and chief executive officer of The Partnership for Drugfree.org. "We need to change that. With the support of partners like Jazz Pharmaceuticals, physicians, parents and teens themselves will be more aware of the dangers of medicine abuse."

This important collaborative effort to raise awareness and combat medicine abuse reflects Jazz Pharmaceuticals' commitment to patient safety.  As part of The Medicine Abuse Project, the company encourages individuals to sign the Pledge at MedicineAbuseProject.org, and many of its employees have already participated in this effort.

About Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing and commercializing innovative products that address unmet medical needs. The company has a diverse portfolio of products in the areas of narcolepsy, oncology, pain and psychiatry. The company's U.S. marketed products in these areas include: Xyrem^® (sodium oxybate), Erwinaze^® (asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi), Prialt^® (ziconotide) intrathecal infusion, Luvox CR^® (fluvoxamine maleate), FazaClo^® (clozapine, USP) HD and FazaClo LD. Outside of the U.S., Jazz Pharmaceuticals also has a number of products marketed by its international division, EUSA Pharma.

SOURCE Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc