Dr. Drew Joins Forces with PriCara^® and the National Association of School Nurses in Program to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse by America's Youth

Raritan, NJ, May 6, 2009 - Dr. Drew Pinsky, television-radio personality and addiction expert, is speaking out on a national media tour about the growing rate of prescription drug abuse among middle and high school students nationwide as part of the educational program, "Smart Moves, Smart Choices." Board certified in addiction medicine, Dr. Drew is acutely aware of the consequences of abusing prescription medications, the drug of choice among children as young as 12 according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Developed by PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the National Association of School Nurses, "Smart Moves, Smart Choices" features tools to help educate teens about the serious risks of abusing prescription medicines, such as those used legitimately to treat pain. The program features a news series and Web-based resources targeted to school nurses, teachers and parents.

Nearly one-quarter of 12th graders report that they have abused prescription drugs by the time they graduate from high school. Dr. Drew will help educate about dangers of abusing prescription drugs and advise parents on signs of abuse and steps they can take to safeguard their children.

"When used under a doctor's supervision, prescription medications can be highly effective," said Dr. Drew, New York Times bestselling author and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. "However, I've seen the impact of prescription drug abuse first hand and know the dangers of using these medications improperly. The 'Smart Moves, Smart Choices' program is a perfect companion to the ongoing dialogue that parents, teenagers and educators should be having about this issue."

To learn more about the program and to access the video and lesson plans, visit www.NASN.org or www.pbs.org/newshour/thenews/themedic/.

About "Smart Moves, Smart Choices"
Launched in 2008, "Smart Moves, Smart Choices" includes four videos and lesson plans prepared for the.Medic, a health and wellness feature of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' the.News, a national news service for middle and high school students. Videos feature interviews with experts on drug abuse, scientists, health practitioners, parents and recovering teens. The series kicks off with "Myth Busters," a video dispelling the misinformation about prescription drugs, including the beliefs that they are less dangerous than illegal drugs and not addictive. Other topics include a look at the impact of abusing prescription pain medications on the developing brain, the social impact of addiction, and analyzing messages about drugs in popular culture. Each downloadable video is accompanied by science and language arts curricula to facilitate classroom activities and discussion. The program includes a the.Medic video and guide for parents, who play an important role in reinforcing their children's education about prescription medications. The videos and lesson plans are available for download at www.NASN.org or www.pbs.org/newshour/thenews/themedic/.

Dr. Drew Pinsky and the National Association of School Nurses are consultants to PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PriCara^®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a major health care company in the United States dedicated to the needs of primary care providers who serve a vital role on the frontline of medicine. For more information about the company, please visit www.PriCara.com.