Actavis highlights success of YIE drug prevention scheme

Actavis has hailed the positive impact achieved to date by the Youth in Europe (YIE) drug prevention programme, which aims to stop youngsters from developing dangerous drug habits.

The pharmaceutical company is the main sponsor for the scheme, which is spearheaded by the government of Iceland and has helped to facilitate a major decline in smoking, drinking and cannabis experimentation amongst 15 to 16-year-old students in the nation between 1998 and 2011.

Following this initial success, the firm is extending its sponsorship of the project through to 2016, with the ultimate aim of spreading its benefits to as many nations as possible.

Claudio Albrecht, chief executive officer of Actavis, said there is a great need for a holistic approach to tackling the problem of drug abuse among children, making it vital to engage all areas of society.

"We remain extremely proud of our Icelandic roots and we are determined to help disseminate this valuable approach throughout Europe," he added.

Earlier this month, the company announced the launch of Olanzapine, a generic version of Lilly's schizophrenia therapy Zyprexa.