IA
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 236
Designating August 7, 1993, as ‘‘Drug Free Day’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JULY 23, 1993
Mr. RANGEL introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service
JOINT RESOLUTION
Designating August 7, 1993, as ‘‘Drug Free Day’’.
Whereas in 1992, an estimated 11,400,000 Americans were
current illicit drug users;
Whereas in 1992, an estimated 9,000,000 Americans were
marijuana or hashish users;
Whereas frequent use of marijuana remained unchanged be-
tween 1991 and 1992 at about 5,200,000 users;
Whereas in 1992, 1,300,000 Americans were cocaine users;
Whereas frequent use of cocaine remained unchanged be-
tween 1991 and 1992 at about 640,000;
Whereas the price of illicit drugs has decreased;
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Whereas the purity of drugs, especially heroin, has increased;
Whereas heroin is causing an increasing proportion of the
health problems that bring people to the hospital;
Whereas our communities are again threatened by an epi-
demic of heroin addiction;
Whereas an estimated 70 percent of the nearly 650,000 State
prisoners have a history of drug use and 50 percent have
a drug problem requiring intensive treatment;
Whereas the number of cocaine users seeking emergency
room help increased to nearly 31,000 in 1992, 8.2 per-
cent over the same period in 1991;
Whereas there have been no major changes in the prevalence
of the use of hallucinogens, such as LSD and PCP;
Whereas high school seniors have reported increased avail-
ability of LSD, crack cocaine, and heroin between 1991
and 1992;
Whereas eighth graders have reported increased availability
of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana;
Whereas the rate of illicit drug use in 1992 was highest
among 18–25 year olds;
Whereas almost 11 percent of all juveniles confined in public
facilities were held for drug-related offenses;
Whereas eighth graders have reported higher rates of drug
use in 1992 than in 1991;
Whereas the rates of marijuana use among eighth graders
has increased;
Whereas 6.1 percent of seniors in the class of 1992 said they
had used cocaine at least once in their lifetime;
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Whereas among the graduating class of 1992, 40.7 percent
of students said they had used cocaine at least once in
their lifetime;
Whereas more than 3,000,000 young people aged 12–17 have
used an illicit drug within the past year;
Whereas more than 490,000 12–17 year olds have tried co-
caine at least once in their lifetimes;
Whereas experimentation with inhalants among adolescents
continues to be unacceptably high;
Whereas 57 percent of children with AIDS were born to
mother who were intravenous drug users or sexual part-
ners of intravenous drug users;
Whereas there still remains a serious drug problem, particu-
larly among our Nation’s youth;
Whereas the drug epidemic cannot be controlled by efforts of
government and law enforcement alone;
Whereas there must be a wide-ranging effort including edu-
cation, prevention, and treatment;
Whereas the pervasive problems of poverty, miseducation, and
poor health care are the root causes of drug abuse and
must be addressed in order to end the drug epidemic;
Whereas the important role that is played by the family must
be recognized and encouraged;
Whereas the efforts of our churches and other influential in-
stitution must be appreciated and encouraged; and
Whereas there should be a day when the total community fo-
cuses its attention on the eradication of drug addiction:
Now, therefore, be it
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Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That August 7, 1993, is designated as ‘‘Drug Free Day’’.
The President is authorized and requested to issue a proc-
lamation calling upon the people of the United States
to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
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