HDMA JOINS THE PARTNERSHIP AT DRUGFREE.ORG'S "WAKE UP TO MEDICINE ABUSE" CAMPAIGN

Campaign will be a week-long effort in September 2012 to take action against prescription drug abuse

ARLINGTON, Va., June 5, 2012 – The Healthcare Distribution Management Association (HDMA) has joined The Partnership at Drugfree.org as a strategic partner for the “Wake Up to Medicine Abuse” campaign. The campaign will increase awareness about the dangers of prescription drugs, and serve as a national call-to-action to stop prescription drug abuse.

The campaign was first announced in April with sponsorship from Cardinal Health, PhRMA and Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceutical business of Covidien. Slated for the week of September 23–29, “Wake Up to Medicine Abuse” will encourage parents to speak with their children about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and encourage the proper disposal and safeguarding of unused medications.

“HDMA is proud to announce our strategic partnership with The Partnership at Drugfree.org on this important campaign,” said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. “As an industry, we are committed to addressing the serious national problem of prescription drug abuse, as well as to being part of the solution. We are pleased to join the ‘Wake Up to Medicine Abuse’ campaign, and support The Partnership at Drugfree.org’s efforts to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently classified prescription drug abuse as a national epidemic, since prescription medications have become the second-most abused category of drugs in the United States. According to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), more than 70 percent of people who abused prescription drugs acquired them from their friends or family, as opposed to receiving a prescription for a documented medical need. The ONDCP indicates that this is often caused by a failure to properly dispose of medications, which facilitates greater access and availability to prescription drugs — particularly among youth.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link between the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare providers. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that nearly nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are delivered safely and efficiently to nearly 200,000 pharmacies, hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and achieve cost savings, an estimated $42 billion each year to our nation’s healthcare system.