[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 263 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 263

    Designating October 2009 as ``National Medicine Abuse Awareness 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 2009

 Mr. Grassley (for himself, Mr. Durbin, and Mrs. Feinstein) submitted 
 the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating October 2009 as ``National Medicine Abuse Awareness 
                                Month''.

Whereas over-the-counter and prescription medicines are extremely safe, 
        effective, and potentially lifesaving when used properly;
Whereas the abuse and recreational use of over-the-counter and prescription 
        medicines can be extremely dangerous and produce serious side effects;
Whereas during a recently sampled month, approximately 7,000,000 individuals 12 
        years of age and older reported using prescription psychotherapeutic 
        medicines for non-medical purposes;
Whereas prescription medications such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, 
        stimulants, and sedatives are second only to marijuana as the most 
        abused drug in the United States;
Whereas recent studies indicate that 2,500,000 children between 12 and 17 years 
        of age, or 1 out of every 10 children, have intentionally abused cough 
        medicine to get high from the ingredient dextromethorphan;
Whereas 4,700,000 young adults, or 1 out of every 5 young men and women, have 
        used prescription medicines for non-medical purposes;
Whereas in 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that the rates 
        for intentional abuse of cough medicine among eighth, tenth, and twelfth 
        graders stood at 3.6 percent, 5.3 percent, and 5.5 percent, 
        respectively;
Whereas according to research from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, more 
        than one-third of teenagers mistakenly believe that taking prescription 
        drugs, even if not prescribed by a doctor, is much safer than using 
        street drugs;
Whereas the lack of understanding by teenagers and parents of the potential 
        harms of these powerful medicines makes it more critical than ever to 
        raise public awareness about the dangers of their abuse;
Whereas when prescription drugs are abused, they are most often obtained through 
        friends and relatives, but can also be obtained through rogue Internet 
        pharmacies;
Whereas parents should be aware that the Internet gives teenagers access to 
        websites that promote abuse of medicines;
Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month promotes the message that over-
        the-counter and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled 
        or prescribed, and that taking over-the-counter and prescription 
        medicines for recreational use or in large doses can have serious and 
        life-threatening consequences;
Whereas National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month will encourage parents to 
        educate themselves about this problem and talk to their children about 
        all types of substance abuse;
Whereas observance of National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month should be 
        encouraged at the national, State, and local levels to increase 
        awareness of the rising abuse of medicines;
Whereas educational toolkits and training methods have been developed on how to 
        best engage and educate parents and grandparents, teachers, law 
        enforcement officials, doctors and health care professionals, and 
        retailers about the potential harms of cough medicine abuse; and
Whereas educating the public on the dangers of medicine abuse and promoting 
        prevention is a critical component of what must be a multi-pronged 
        effort to curb the disturbing rise in medicine abuse: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates October 2009 as ``National Medicine Abuse 
        Awareness Month''; and
            (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and 
        activities to educate parents and youth of the potential 
        dangers associated with medicine abuse.
                                 <all>