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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 614 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 614

   Designating the month of August 2008 as ``National Medicine Abuse 
                           Awareness Month''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 16, 2008

   Mr. Biden (for himself and Mr. Grassley) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

           September 22 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Designating the month of August 2008 as ``National Medicine Abuse 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas over-the-counter and prescription medicines are extremely safe, 
        effective, and potentially lifesaving when used properly;
Whereas the abuse and recreational use of over-the-counter and prescription 
        medicines can be extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects;
Whereas in a recently sampled month, 7,000,000 individuals aged 12 or older 
        reported using prescription psychotherapeutic medicines for nonmedical 
        purposes;
Whereas abuse of prescription medicines, including pain relievers, 
        tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives is second only to marijuana, 
        the number 1 illegal drug of abuse in the United States;
Whereas recent studies indicate that 2,400,000 children, or 1 in 10 children 
        aged 12 through 17, have intentionally abused cough medicine to get high 
        from the ingredient dextromethorphan;
Whereas 4,500,000, or 1 in 5, young adults have used prescription medicines for 
        nonmedical purposes;
Whereas according to research from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, more 
        than \1/3\ of teens mistakenly believe that taking prescription drugs, 
        even if not prescribed by a doctor, is much safer than using more 
        traditional street drugs;
Whereas the lack of understanding by teens and parents of the potential harms of 
        these powerful prescription drugs makes raising public awareness about 
        the dangers of the misuse of such drugs more critical than ever;
Whereas misused prescription drugs are most often obtained through friends and 
        relatives;
Whereas misused prescription drugs are also obtained through rogue Internet 
        pharmacies;
Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives teens access to websites 
        that promote medicine abuse;
Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month promotes the messages that over-
        the-counter and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled 
        or prescribed, and that taking over-the-counter and prescription 
        medicines for recreational uses or in large doses can have serious and 
        life-threatening consequences;
Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month will encourage parents to become 
        educated about prescription drug abuse and talk to teens about all types 
        of substance abuse;
Whereas observance of National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month should be 
        encouraged at the national, State, and local levels to increase 
        awareness of the misuse of medicines;
Whereas some groups, including the Consumer Healthcare Products Association and 
        the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, have taken important steps 
        by creating educational toolkits, including ``A Dose of Prevention: 
        Stopping Cough Medicine Abuse Before it Starts'', which provides guides 
        to educate parents, teachers, law enforcement officials, doctors and 
        healthcare professionals, and retailers about the potential dangers of 
        abusing over-the-counter cough and cold medicines;
Whereas the Partnership for a Drug-Free America and community alliance and 
        affiliate partners have undertaken a nationwide prevention campaign 
        utilizing research-based educational advertisements, public relations 
        and news media, and the Internet to inform parents about the negative 
        teen behavior of intentional abuse of medicines so that parents are 
        empowered to effectively communicate the facts about this dangerous 
        trend with teens and to take necessary steps to safeguard prescription 
        and over-the-counter medicines at home; and
Whereas educating the public about the dangers of medicine abuse and promoting 
        prevention is a critical component of what must be a multi-pronged 
        effort to curb the disturbing rise in medicine misuse: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the month of August 2008 as ``National 
        Medicine Abuse Awareness Month''; and
            (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and 
        activities to educate parents and youth about the potential 
        dangers associated with medicine abuse.
                                 <all>
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