IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1580 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2010 Mr. Roe of Tennessee submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform RESOLUTION Raising the awareness of the need to secure prescription medications and expressing support for designation of September 10 as National Lock Your Meds Day.

Whereas prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing public health concern in the United States with little public awareness; Whereas many people in the United States hold the dangerous misconception that prescription medications are safe because they are legal; Whereas 2,500,000 people in the United States began using prescription drugs non-medicinally in 2008 alone; Whereas deaths due to drug overdoses now exceed those due to car accidents in 16 States; Whereas the abuse of prescription medications in this country costs approximately $4,000,000,000 in health care and correctional facility charges annually; Whereas adolescents and young adults are increasingly finding home medicine cabinets an easy way to illegally access powerful and addictive medications; Whereas people in the United States are facilitating the abuse of prescriptions by their friends and family members by neglecting to properly secure and track their medications; Whereas the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and the National Family Partnership have teamed up together to educate communities nationwide on the dangers of leaving prescription medicines in unsecured locations in their home and are committed to combating the scourge of prescription drug abuse, particularly by adolescents and young adults; and Whereas September 10 would be an appropriate date to designate as National Lock Your Meds Day: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)supports the designation of National Lock Your Meds Day; (2)encourages the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate programs and awareness activities; and (3)encourages the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Family Partnership to promote National Lock Your Meds Day, in collaboration with law enforcement and other supporting local agencies, to educate communities about the dangers of unsecured prescription meds as well as an attempt to reduce illegal access to unsecured prescription meds throughout the United States.