III 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 466 

Designating the week of October 27 through November 2, 2014, as ‘‘National 

Drug Take-Back Week’’, and designating October 2014 as ‘‘National 

Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 3, 2014 

Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Ms. KLOBUCHAR) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the week of October 27 through November 2, 

2014, as ‘‘National Drug Take-Back Week’’, and designating October 2014 as ‘‘National Prescription Opioid 

and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month’’. 

Whereas prescription opioids can play an integral role in 

proper pain management and treatment of health conditions; 

Whereas when no longer needed or wanted for legitimate pain 

management or health treatment, prescription opioids are 

susceptible to diversion; 

Whereas prescription opioids may be abused by individuals 

who were not prescribed such drugs or misused by individuals not taking such drugs as directed; 


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•SRES 466 IS 

Whereas prescription opioid pain relievers are powerful, regulated drugs that, according to the National Institute on 

Drug Abuse, attach to the same cell receptors as heroin; 

Whereas prescription opioids, when used improperly or not 

taken as prescribed, can be addictive; 

Whereas scientific studies indicate a link between prescription 

opioid abuse and potential future heroin use and addiction; 

Whereas compared to prescription opioids, heroin is a cheaper drug and becoming more readily available; 

Whereas deaths from heroin overdoses have significantly increased in communities across the United States; 

Whereas addiction and overdoses take lives, ruin families, and 

fuel rising crime rates in communities across the United 

States; 

Whereas drug take-back programs allow for the collection 

and safe disposal of unwanted or unused drugs; and 

Whereas drug take-back days are held infrequently: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) encourages a continuous national dialogue 

3 on efforts to combat prescription opioid abuse and 

4 heroin addiction; 

5 (2) supports a holistic approach to addressing 

6 prescription opioid and heroin abuse, including 

7 through law enforcement and first responder initia8 tives, international drug interdiction, and treatment, 

9 recovery, prevention, and education efforts; 


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•SRES 466 IS 

1 (3) recognizes the commitment of Federal, 

2 State, and local law enforcement personnel, first re3 sponders, firefighters, treatment providers, research4 ers, prescribers, pharmacists, dispensers, medical 

5 boards, manufacturers, and community organiza6 tions to addressing prescription opioid abuse and 

7 heroin addiction; 

8 (4) supports the goals of drug take-back efforts 

9 by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 

10 State, local, and tribal law enforcement partners of 

11 the Drug Enforcement Administration, and encour12 ages the expansion of such efforts; 

13 (5) designates the week of October 27 through 

14 November 2, 2014, as ‘‘National Drug Take-Back 

15 Week’’; 

16 (6) encourages media organizations to bring 

17 awareness to prescription opioid and heroin use, par18 ticularly among the youth in the United States; and 

19 (7) designates October 2014 as ‘‘National Pre20 scription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness 

21 Month’’. 

Æ 


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