III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 263 

Designating October 2009 as ‘‘National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2009 

Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. DURBIN, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating October 2009 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 during a recently sampled month, approximately 

7,000,000 individuals 12 years of age and older reported 

using prescription psychotherapeutic medicines for nonmedical purposes; 

Whereas prescription medications such as pain relievers, 

tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives are second only to 

marijuana as the most abused drug in the United States; 


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•SRES 263 IS 

Whereas recent studies indicate that 2,500,000 children between 12 and 17 years of age, or 1 out of every 10 children, have intentionally abused cough medicine to get 

high from the ingredient dextromethorphan; 

Whereas 4,700,000 young adults, or 1 out of every 5 young 

men and women, have used prescription medicines for 

non-medical purposes; 

Whereas in 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that the rates for intentional abuse of cough medicine among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders stood at 

3.6 percent, 5.3 percent, and 5.5 percent, respectively; 

Whereas according to research from the Partnership for a 

Drug-Free America, more than one-third of teenagers 

mistakenly believe that taking prescription drugs, even if 

not prescribed by a doctor, is much safer than using 

street drugs; 

Whereas the lack of understanding by teenagers and parents 

of the potential harms of these powerful medicines makes 

it more critical than ever to raise public awareness about 

the dangers of their abuse; 

Whereas when prescription drugs are abused, they are most 

often obtained through friends and relatives, but can also 

be obtained through rogue Internet pharmacies; 

Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives 

teenagers access to websites that promote abuse of medicines; 

Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month promotes the message that over-the-counter and prescription 

medicines should be taken only as labeled or prescribed, 

and that taking over-the-counter and prescription mediVerDate Nov 24 2008 21:33 Sep 14, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR263.IS SR263

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•SRES 263 IS 

cines for recreational use or in large doses can have serious and life-threatening consequences; 

Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month will encourage parents to educate themselves about this problem 

and talk to their children 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 rising abuse of 

medicines; 

Whereas educational toolkits and training methods have been 

developed on how to best engage and educate parents and 

grandparents, teachers, law enforcement officials, doctors 

and health care professionals, and retailers about the potential harms of cough medicine abuse; and 

Whereas educating the public on 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 abuse: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates October 2009 as ‘‘National Med3 icine Abuse Awareness Month’’; and 

4 (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate 

5 programs and activities to educate parents and 

6 youth of the potential dangers associated with medi7 cine abuse. 

Æ 


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