III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 256 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 9, 2009 Mr. Levin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Recognizing the importance of “National Drug Facts Chat Day” on November 10, 2009.

Whereas the National Institute on Drug Abuse created National Drug Facts Chat Day to provide the opportunity for school-aged youth and teachers in classrooms across the United States to ask questions of the Nation’s leading experts in the field of drug abuse and addiction; Whereas on October 12, 2007, the first annual Drug Facts Chat Day yielded over 35,000 questions from school-aged youth across the United States, providing accurate information on drug abuse and addiction; Whereas the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that, in 2007, nearly 8 percent of youth in the United States between 12 and 17 years of age met diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence (addiction) to illegal drugs or alcohol; Whereas the Monitoring the Future Study has yielded encouraging news of generally declining past-month illicit drug use rates for school-aged youth, noting a 24 percent decline from 2001 to 2008 by students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades combined; Whereas declines in youth cigarette smoking, now at its lowest rate since the Monitoring the Future Survey began collecting data in 1975, will translate into fewer deaths associated with the myriad medical consequences of smoking; Whereas while progress continues to be made, troubling trends still abound, including widespread abuse of prescription drugs among youth in the United States; Whereas research shows that as the perceived risks associated with drugs increases, the abuse of such drugs decreases; Whereas youth often get information about drugs, drug abuse, and addiction from unreliable and inaccurate sources; and Whereas “National Drug Facts Chat Day” is on November 10, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the importance of “National Drug Facts Chat Day”; and (2)urges teachers, schools, and students to participate by submitting questions and using the information provided to increase their understanding of the science of drug abuse and addiction among school-aged youth.