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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 127 (Wednesday, September 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6465-S6466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

    SENATE RESOLUTION 564--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2012 AS 
              ``NATIONAL MEDICINE ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Udall of 
New Mexico, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Portman, Mr. Coons, Mr. Rockefeller, 
Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Casey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 564

       Whereas over-the-counter and prescription medicines 
     approved by the Food and Drug Administration have been 
     determined to be safe and effective when used properly;
       Whereas the misuse or abuse of these medicines can be 
     extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects;
       Whereas the Office of National Drug Control Policy reports 
     that medicine abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in 
     the United States, and the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention has classified medicine abuse as an epidemic;
       Whereas the 2011 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by 
     the National Institutes of Health, and the 2011 National 
     Survey on Drug Use and Health, sponsored by the Substance 
     Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, both 
     illustrate that, after marijuana, over-the-counter and 
     prescription medicines account for the most frequently abused 
     drugs among 12th graders;
       Whereas the access teenagers often have to prescription 
     medicines in home medicine cabinets and the lack of 
     understanding by teenagers of the potential harms of these 
     powerful medicines make it more critical than ever to raise 
     public awareness about the dangers of medicine abuse;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration and many State 
     and local law enforcement agencies have established drug 
     disposal programs (commonly referred to as ``take-back 
     programs'') to facilitate the collection and destruction of 
     unused, unwanted, or expired medications, thereby helping to 
     take outdated or unused medications off household shelves and 
     out of the reach of children and teenagers;
       Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month promotes 
     the message that over-the-counter and prescription medicines 
     are to be taken only as labeled or prescribed, and that using 
     such medicines to get high or in large doses can cause 
     serious or life-threatening consequences;
       Whereas observance of National Medicine Abuse Awareness 
     Month should be encouraged at the national, state, and local 
     levels to increase awareness of the abuse of medicines;
       Whereas a nationwide prevention and education campaign has 
     been launched by the national organization that represents 
     5,000 anti-drug coalitions nationwide, along with the 
     association representing makers of over-the-counter 
     medicines, to provide local coalitions with tools, training, 
     and outreach strategies to engage and educate parents, 
     grandparents, teachers, law enforcement officials, retailers, 
     doctors, and other healthcare professionals about the 
     potential harms of cough medicine abuse; and
       Whereas educating the public about the dangers of medicine 
     abuse, encouraging parents to talk about medicine abuse with 
     their teenagers, mobilizing parents to safeguard their home 
     medicine cabinets, and promoting abuse prevention are 
     critical components of what must be a multi-pronged effort

[[Page S6466]]

     to curb over-the-counter and prescription medicine abuse: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the month of October 2012 as ``National 
     Medicine Abuse Awareness Month''; and
       (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and 
     activities to educate parents and youth of the potential 
     dangers associated with medicine abuse.

                          ____________________
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