[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 236 Introduced in House (IH)]

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 between 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 between 1991 and 1992 at 
        about 640,000;
Whereas the price of illicit drugs has decreased;
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 epidemic 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 percent 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 availability 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;
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 cocaine 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 partners of intravenous drug users;
Whereas there still remains a serious drug problem, particularly 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 education, 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 institution must be 
        appreciated and encouraged; and
Whereas there should be a day when the total community focuses its attention on 
        the eradication of drug addiction: Now, therefore, be it
    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 proclamation calling upon the people of the United 
States to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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