IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1451 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

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.