III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 261 

Designating the month of October 2011 as ‘‘National Medicine Abuse 

Awareness Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. 

PORTMAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the month of October 2011 as ‘‘National 

Medicine Abuse Awareness Month’’. 

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 abuse of such medicines can be extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects; 

Whereas according to the Substance Abuse and Mental 

Health Services Administration’s 2010 National Survey 

on Drug Use and Health, the nonmedical use of prescription drugs has risen, with 2.5 percent of the population 

engaging in nonmedical use of prescription drugs in 2008 


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and 2.8 percent of the population engaging in such use 

in 2009; 

Whereas the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health 

illustrates that the abuse of prescription medications such 

as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives 

is second only to marijuana, the most commonly abused 

illegal drug in the United States; 

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey, funded by 

the National Institutes of Health, indicates that approximately 5 percent of teenagers in the United States report 

having abused an over-the-counter cough medicine to get 

high, and prescription and over-the-counter drugs account for 8 of the 14 most frequently abused drugs by 

students in grade 12; 

Whereas the 2010 Monitoring the Future survey also indicates that the intentional abuse of cough medicine among 

students in grades 8, 10, and 12 is at 3.2 percent, 5.1 

percent, and 6.6 percent, respectively; 

Whereas according to research from The Partnership at 

DrugFree.org, 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 harm of such powerful medicines makes 

it more critical than ever to raise public awareness about 

the dangers of the abuse of such drugs; 

Whereas when prescription drugs are abused, such drugs are 

most often obtained through friends and relatives; 


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Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives 

teenagers access to websites that promote the abuse of 

medicines; 

Whereas the designation of ‘‘National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month’’ promotes the message that over-the-counter 

and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled or prescribed, and such medicines can have serious 

or life-threatening consequences when used to get high or 

in large doses; 

Whereas the designation of ‘‘National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month’’ will encourage parents to educate themselves about the problem of abuse of over-the-counter and 

prescription medicines, and talk to their teens 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 abuse of medicines; 

Whereas educational tools, training programs, and strategies 

have been developed by the national organization that 

represents 5,000 anti-drug coalitions nationwide and the 

association representing makers of over-the-counter medicines, in order to help local coalitions demonstrate the 

best ways to engage and educate parents and grandparents, teachers, law enforcement officials, doctors, 

other healthcare professionals, and retailers about the potential harms of cough medicine abuse; 

Whereas a partnership of nonprofit associations specializing 

in raising media awareness about substance abuse and 

organizations that represent the leading makers of overthe-counter drugs have developed a nationwide prevention 


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campaign that utilizes research-based educational advertisements, public relations and news media, and the 

Internet to inform parents about the negative teen behavior of intentional abuse of medicines, in order to empower 

parents to effectively communicate with their children 

about this dangerous trend and to take necessary steps 

to safeguard prescription and over-the-counter medicines 

in their homes; and 

Whereas educating the public on the dangers of medicine 

abuse and promoting prevention of medicine abuse are 

critical components of what must be a multi-pronged effort to curb prescription and over-the-counter medicine 

abuse: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the month of October 2011 as 

3 ‘‘National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month’’; and 

4 (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate 

5 programs and activities to educate parents and 

6 youth about the potential dangers associated with 

7 medicine abuse. 

Æ 


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