Patricia F. Russo Named Chairman of Partnership for a Drug-Free America(R)

Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lucent Technologies to Bring Business and Technology Expertise to National Non-Profit Health Organization

NEW YORK, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America today named Patricia "Pat" F. Russo Chairman of the national non-profit organization that exists to help parents prevent, intervene in and treat drug and alcohol use by their children.

Russo assumes the Chairmanship effective February 1st from Roy J. Bostock, who was named Chairman in 2002 after the sale of Bcom3 Group Inc. to the Publicis Group.  Bostock, Chairman of Yahoo!, Vice Chairman of Delta Airlines and a Director of Morgan Stanley, will remain an active member of the Partnership board, working closely with Russo to further the organization's commitment to helping parents protect their children against the risks of drug and alcohol use.  Bostock was preceded in the Chairman role by James E. Burke, former Chairman of Johnson & Johnson.  

"With Pat Russo joining us as Chairman, the Partnership is reaffirming its commitment to effective, groundbreaking communications. We are poised to complete our evolution into the premier online and community education resource helping parents safeguard their children from the risks of drugs and alcohol," said Bostock.  "Pat's track record in business is exceptional, her leadership style is impeccable and her integrity is second to none. She is precisely the type of leader the Partnership needs to guide the organization in this new decade as it meets the needs of America's families. "

"Adolescent addiction is one of the most complex, yet preventable, public health challenges facing our nation today.  It is a keystone issue that can devastate families, drives rising healthcare costs and educational failure, and ultimately impacts this nation's ability to compete around the world," said Russo.  "I was drawn to this role because the Partnership is a non-profit organization that is thoughtfully and rigorously managed. Its national programs and deep resources on drugfree.org are grounded in scientific and consumer research, insightful communications strategies, and meticulous execution. I am excited to be joining an organization that is doing such effective, life-saving work."

Currently, Russo holds board memberships with General Motors Company, Alcoa Inc., and Merck.  She is the former Chairman and CEO of Lucent Technologies, Inc. and Avaya Inc., former COO of Eastman Kodak Company and was President, Lucent Business Communications Systems for AT&T Corporation.  

Her career in communications and technology began in 1973 at the IBM Corporation where she held several positions in sales and marketing.  Rising through the ranks of the telecommunications company AT&T Corporation, Russo helped launch its spin-off, Lucent Technologies.   Fortune and Forbes Magazines have both ranked Russo as one of the "Most Powerful Women" in business.

"At a time when the Partnership is pioneering science-based resources on adolescent drug use and addiction, and expanding our programs on prescription drug abuse, methamphetamine, treatment and recovery, we are extremely  fortunate to have a savvy, committed business leader like Pat Russo to head our board," said Partnership President and CEO, Steve Pasierb. "Pat's business experience across several categories and companies, coupled with the collective expertise of the Partnership's committed board of directors and our staff, will help ensure that we continue to deliver useful, relevant tools and support to the parents and families we exist to serve."

Among the comprehensive resources the Partnership recently launched are:

• Time To Act – a first-of-its kind online help resource for parents and caregivers who think or know their child is experimenting, using or has a problem with alcohol or drugs.
• Intervene – a community of parents who support each other through problems from their teens' alcohol and drug use.
• The Parent Toolkit – provides advice and stories from parents and professionals about drug prevention, intervention and raising healthy teens.
• Habla Con Tus Hijos – the new Spanish-language counterpart to the Partnership's ongoing parent movement, Time To Talk™ – empowering Hispanic parents to start and maintain open, honest conversations with their children about the risks of drug and alcohol abuse.
• Meth360 – a law enforcement-led prevention education program uniting communities in the prevention of methamphetamine abuse.
• Not In My House – dedicated to providing parents of teens with information, tips and tools to help prevent prescription drug abuse in their families.

The Partnership at drugfree.org is a nonprofit organization that helps parents prevent, intervene in and treat drug and alcohol use by their children. Bringing together renowned scientists, parent experts, and communications professionals, the Partnership translates current research on teen behavior, addiction, and treatment into easy to understand resources at drugfree.org.  

For parents who want help talking with their kids about drugs, drinking, and other risky behaviors, TimeToTalk.org offers tips and tools promoting parent/child communication. Time To Act is a step-by-step guide for parents who believe or are sure that their teens are drinking or using drugs and need to know what to do.  Through its "360" suite of community programs, the Partnership educates parents and concerned citizens at the grassroots level about the risks of methamphetamine, non-medical prescription drug use and other emerging drug threats, and promotes parenting and community practices designed to prevent teen substance abuse.

The Partnership depends on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and government. The Partnership thanks SAG/AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

SOURCE Partnership for a Drug-Free America