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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 703 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 703

   Designating November 2008 as ``National Methamphetamine Awareness 
        Month'', to increase awareness of methamphetamine abuse.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            October 2 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Levin, Mr. Thune, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Smith, Mr. Obama, Mr. Nelson 
   of Nebraska, Mr. Tester, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Reid, Ms. 
    Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Craig, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Salazar, Mrs. 
  Feinstein, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Feingold, and Mr. Enzi) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
   Designating November 2008 as ``National Methamphetamine Awareness 
        Month'', to increase awareness of methamphetamine abuse.

Whereas methamphetamine, an easily manufactured drug of the amphetamine group, 
        is a powerful and addictive central nervous system stimulant with long-
        lasting effects;
Whereas the National Association of Counties reported in 2007 that 
        methamphetamine is the number 1 illegal drug problem for 47 percent of 
        the counties in the United States, a higher percentage than that of any 
        other drug;
Whereas 4 out of 5 county sheriffs report that, while local methamphetamine 
        production is down, methamphetamine abuse is not (the National 
        Association of Counties found that \1/2\ of the Nation's sheriffs report 
        abuse of the drug has stayed the same and nearly \1/3\ say that it has 
        increased);
Whereas the highest rates of methamphetamine use among all ethnic groups occur 
        within Native American communities;
Whereas the consequence of methamphetamine use by many young adults in the 
        Native American community has been death, including methamphetamine-
        related suicides;
Whereas sheriffs report increases in crime directly related to the presence of 
        methamphetamine in their communities;
Whereas most illegal methamphetamine available in the United States is produced 
        in large clandestine laboratories in Mexico and smuggled into this 
        country;
Whereas methamphetamine labs are costly to clean up in that every pound of 
        methamphetamine produced can yield up to 5 pounds of toxic waste, 
        representing a public danger to adults and children;
Whereas the profile of methamphetamine users is changing, as \3/5\ of the 
        Nation's sheriffs report increased methamphetamine use by women and \1/
        2\ of the Nation's sheriffs report increased use by teens;
Whereas, in surveys on the abuse of methamphetamine among teens, many of the 
        respondents said that the drug was easy to get and believed there is 
        little risk in trying it;
Whereas other National Association of Counties surveys have shown that 
        methamphetamine also places significant burdens on local social service 
        and health care resources, increasing out-of-home placements for 
        children, sending more people to public hospital emergency rooms than 
        any other drug, and producing an ever-growing need for methamphetamine 
        treatment programs; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Methamphetamine Awareness month would 
        increase awareness of methamphetamine and educate the public on 
        effective ways to help prevent methamphetamine use at the Federal, 
        State, and local levels: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates November 2008 as ``National Methamphetamine 
        Awareness Month'' to increase awareness of methamphetamine 
        abuse; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States and 
        interested groups to observe National Methamphetamine Awareness 
        Month with appropriate educational programs and outreach 
        activities.
                                 <all>
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