Abbott launches drug misuse campaign

Abbott and partners have launched a campaign called Not In My House to help parents protect themselves and their children from the misuse of prescription drugs.

The campaign will provide parents with information and useful ideas on how to reduce the access teenagers have to medicines in the home.

Jeff Haas, general manager for Pain Care at Abbott, said: “Medicines have an important role in healthcare, but they have significant risks when they are misused and abused.”

Key steps to help parents include monitoring the amount of drugs they have in the home and ensuring they are stored securely.

A survey supported by Abbott last year found over half of teenagers who said they abused prescription drugs had found them at home.

Abbott is a 120-year old international healthcare group which develops new technologies and medicines for health. The company says its goal is to help people live healthier lives through the development of science.