III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 279 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during the period 

of October 23 through October 31, 2013. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 31, 2013 

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 

Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week during 

the period of October 23 through October 31, 2013. 

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was started to commemorate the service of Enrique ‘‘Kiki’’ Camarena, an 11-year 

special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration 

who was murdered in the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in the battle against illicit drugs; 

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally recognized since 1988 to preserve the memory of Special 

Agent Camarena and further the cause for which he gave 

his life; 

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest 

drug prevention awareness program in the United States, 


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•SRES 279 IS 

reaching millions of young people each year during Red 

Ribbon Week; 

Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration has been 

committed throughout its 40-year history to aggressively 

targeting organizations involved in the growing, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances and has 

been a steadfast partner in commemorating Red Ribbon 

Week; 

Whereas State Governors and attorney generals, the National 

Family Partnership, parent teacher associations, Boys 

and Girls Clubs of America, Young Marines, the Drug 

Enforcement Administration, and hundreds of other organizations throughout the United States annually celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 

through October 31; 

Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the 

creation of drug-free communities through drug prevention efforts, education programs, parental involvement, 

and community-wide support; 

Whereas, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and 

Health, in 2012 an estimated 23,900,000 Americans, or 

9.2 percent of the population aged 12 and older, used illicit drugs; 

Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges to securing a safe and healthy future for people and families in 

the United States; 

Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to domestic 

violence and sexual assault and place children at risk; 

Whereas, although public awareness of illicit drug use is increasing, emerging drug threats and growing epidemics 

demand attention, with particular focus on synthetic 


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•SRES 279 IS 

drugs and the nonmedical use of prescription drugs, the 

second most abused drug by young people in the United 

States; 

Whereas, the majority of teenagers abusing prescription 

drugs get the drugs from family, friends, and the home 

medicine cabinet; 

Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration will host a 

National Take Back Day on October 26, 2013, for the 

public to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription 

drugs that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and 

abuse; 

Whereas synthetic drugs, including those popularly known as 

‘‘K2’’ or ‘‘Spice’’, have acknowledged dangerous health 

effects and have become especially popular among teens 

and young adults; 

Whereas in 2012, poison centers across the United States responded to approximately 5,205 calls related to synthetic 

drugs; 

Whereas the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 

data revealed that heroin use doubled between 2007 and 

2011 and in 2012 there were 669,000 heroin users compared to 373,000 in 2007; 

Whereas the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 

data revealed a 50-percent increase in daily marijuana 

use among individuals aged 12 and over and a 25-percent 

increase in marijuana use by the general population; and 

Whereas parents, young people, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies, religious institutions and faith-based 

organizations, service organizations, senior citizens, medical and military personnel, sports teams, and individuals 

throughout the United States will demonstrate their comVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:59 Nov 01, 2013 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR279.IS SR279

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•SRES 279 IS 

mitment to healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles 

by wearing and displaying red ribbons during this weeklong celebration: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon 

3 Week during the period of October 23 through Octo4 ber 31, 2013; 

5 (2) encourages children, teens, and other indi6 viduals to choose to live drug-free lives; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to promote the creation of drug-free communities 

9 and to participate in drug prevention activities to 

10 show support for healthy, productive, and drug-free 

11 lifestyles. 

Æ 


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