Cephalon launches campaign on use of opioids

Cephalon has announced it is embarking on an education programme which aims to promote greater awareness among caregivers, patients and members of the public on the responsible and appropriate use of prescription opioids.

Entitled When Good Medicines Go Bad, the scheme is set to include a series of free educational workshops on a range of topics, such as safeguarding medicines in the home.

Dr Lesley Russell, executive vice-president and chief medical officer of Cephalon, explains the scheme is consistent with the firm’s commitment to ensuring prescription medication are used in a safe manner by the correct patients.

She adds: “71 per cent of people who abuse prescription pain medicines received them from a friend or family member, not through a doctor’s prescription.

“The aim of this program is to heighten patient and public awareness of – and responsibility for – safeguarding the use of these important medications.”

According to the firm, the first webcast in the When Good Medicines Go Bad scheme will take place on October 21st and will be moderated by general Barry R McCaffrey, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

In recent weeks, Cephalon announced it had concluded all outstanding state government and federal investigations into the firm’s promotional and sales practices.