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NEW YORK — A dramatic jump in the rates of misuse of prescription stimulants over the past four years is linked to lax attitudes on the part of parents, according to a new study, though misuse and abuse of prescription opioids has remained flat.

DUBLIN — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new contraceptive drug made by Warner Chilcott, the drug maker said.

Warner Chilcott announced the approval of Minastrin 24 FE (norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol capsules and ferrous fumarate capsules) for prevention of pregnancy.

The drug maker said an unnamed third-party company would manufacture the drug, but it did not expect to launch it this year.

BASEL, Switzerland — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug made by Alcon, the drug maker said.

PASADENA, Calif. — A new study by Kaiser Permanente finds that a large percentage of women with osteoporosis fail to pick up new prescriptions for the condition.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A federal court ruling has allowed Actavis to relaunch a generic contraceptive drug, the company said.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a modification to a program added to the labeling of an obesity drug to ensure patient safety.

Vivus announced that the FDA had approved changes to the risk evaluation and mitigatin strategy for Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate) extended-release capsules. The amendment to the REMS allows the drug to be dispensed through certified retail pharmacies in addition to the existing network of mail-order pharmacies.

LONDON — A Food and Drug Administration panel has recommended that the agency approve an experimental drug for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease made by GlaxoSmithKline and Theravance, the two companies said.

The FDA Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted 9-4 to recommend Breo Ellipta as a long-term maintenance treatment for airflow obstruction in patients with COPD and for reduction of COPD exacerbations in patients with a history of them. The drug is a once-daily inhaler that combines fluticasone furoate and vilanterol.

NEW YORK — Purdue Pharma's patent for OxyContin expired Tuesday, opening up the opioid painkiller to generic competition, but authorities have raised concerns about what they call the potential for generic versions to be abused.