[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1451 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1451

      Expressing support for designation of June 26, 2010, as the 
     International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2010

 Mrs. Bono Mack (for herself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 
in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Expressing support for designation of June 26, 2010, as the 
     International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Whereas the economic cost of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use in the United States 
        is more than $500,000,000,000;
Whereas the trafficking of illicit drugs creates a culture of lawlessness, 
        rampant violence, and is often linked to organized criminal gangs and 
        terrorism;
Whereas the illicit drug industry is estimated at $400,000,000,000 per year;
Whereas there are an estimated 190,000,000 drug users worldwide;
Whereas the average age of the 190,000,000 worldwide drug users is 30;
Whereas teenagers and young adults are particularly vulnerable to illicit drugs 
        and the prevalence of drug use among young people is more than twice as 
        high as that among the general population;
Whereas preventing drug use before it begins and educating the public on the 
        dangers of drug use is a critical component of what must be a consistent 
        and comprehensive effort to stunt and decrease drug use rates throughout 
        the United States;
Whereas the rates of use for any illegal drug are directly related to the 
        perception of harm and social disapproval;
Whereas community anti-drug coalitions in the United States and internationally 
        play a key role in combating the use of illicit drugs among youth and 
        have contributed to reductions in drug abuse rates and increases in the 
        perception of harm over the past decade;
Whereas community anti-drug coalitions involve all sectors of the community, 
        including youth, parents, businesses, media, schools, youth serving 
        organizations, law enforcement, religious and fraternal organizations, 
        civic and volunteer groups, health care professionals, and State, local, 
        or tribal governmental agencies;
Whereas community anti-drug coalitions change community norms, laws, policies, 
        regulations, and procedures to create an environment that discourages 
        the use of drugs;
Whereas thousands of community anti-drug coalition leaders and community-based 
        substance abuse prevention, treatment, and education professionals play 
        a vital role in keeping communities free of illicit drugs and drug 
        trafficking, both in the United States and internationally;
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly established June 26 as the 
        International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking;
Whereas the international campaign encourages young people to put health first 
        and not to take drugs;
Whereas the theme for the 2010 International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit 
        Trafficking is ``Do drugs control your life? Your life. Your community. 
        No place for drugs'';
Whereas a goal of this international campaign is to mobilize support and to 
        inspire people to act against drug abuse and trafficking;
Whereas the United Nations encourages people and institutions to get involved in 
        this prohealth campaign;
Whereas the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking raises 
        awareness about the goal of creating an international society free of 
        drug abuse, which was agreed to by United Nations Member States, 
        including the United States; and
Whereas June 26, 2010, would be an appropriate date to designate as the 
        International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of the International Day 
        against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking;
            (2) urges teenagers, young adults, communities, and 
        community anti-drug coalitions both domestically and 
        internationally to engage in, and carry out, appropriate 
        prevention and education activities and programs to reduce and 
        stop illegal drug use before it starts;
            (3) recognizes the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy 
        Commission, which will review and evaluate United States policy 
        regarding illicit drug supply reduction and interdiction, with 
        particular emphasis on international drug policies and programs 
        directed toward the countries of the Western Hemisphere, along 
        with foreign and domestic demand reduction policies and 
        programs;
            (4) recognizes the Office of National Drug Control Policy's 
        efforts to enhance United States international demand reduction 
        efforts;
            (5) recognizes the Department of State's International 
        Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Demand Reduction program, 
        which exports the best of United States demand reduction 
        technology to other countries; and
            (6) recognizes the importance of efforts to curb illicit 
        drug trafficking as well as the major negative consequences it 
        causes, both domestically and internationally.
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