[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 382 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 382

 Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, October 23, 2013 
                       through October 31, 2013.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 14, 2013

Mr. Hunter (for himself and Mr. Ruppersberger) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, October 23, 2013 
                       through October 31, 2013.

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was started to commemorate the service of 
        Enrique ``Kiki'' Camarena, an 11-year special agent of the Drug 
        Enforcement Administration who was murdered in the line of duty in 1985 
        while engaged in the battle against illicit drugs;
Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally recognized for 25 years 
        (since 1988) to preserve Special Agent Camarena's memory and further the 
        cause for which he gave his life, and is now the oldest and largest drug 
        prevention program in the Nation, reaching millions of young people each 
        year during Red Ribbon Week;
Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, committed throughout its 40 years 
        to target aggressively, organizations involved in the growing, 
        manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances, has been a 
        steadfast partner in commemorating Red Ribbon Week;
Whereas the State governors and attorneys general, the National Family 
        Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations, Boys and Girls Clubs of 
        America, Young Marines, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and 
        hundreds of other organizations throughout the United States annually 
        celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 through 
        October 31;
Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the creation of drug-free 
        communities through drug prevention efforts, education, parental 
        involvement, and community-wide support;
Whereas according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2012 
        an estimated 23,900,000 people in the United States, 9.2 percent of the 
        population aged 12 and older, were current illicit drug users;
Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges that the Nation faces in 
        securing a safe and healthy future for families in the United States;
Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to domestic violence and sexual 
        assault and place children at risk;
Whereas although public awareness of illicit drug use is increasing, emerging 
        drug threats and growing epidemics demand attention, with particular 
        focus on synthetic drugs and the nonmedical use of prescription drugs, 
        the second-most-abused drug by young people in the United States;
Whereas the majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from 
        family, friends, and the home medicine cabinet, the Drug Enforcement 
        Administration will host a National Take Back Day on October 26, 2013, 
        for the public to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription 
        medications that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse;
Whereas synthetic marijuana, also known as ``K2'' or ``Spice'' and with 
        acknowledged dangerous health effects, has become especially popular, 
        especially among teens and young adults, and in 2012 poison centers 
        nationwide responded to about 5,205 calls related to synthetic 
        marijuana;
Whereas the 2012 NSDUH data revealed between 2007 and 2011 heroin use doubled;
Whereas in 2007, there were 373,000 heroin users compared to 669,000 in 2012;
Whereas the 2012 NSDUH revealed a 50 percent increase in daily marijuana use 
        among those aged 12 and up and a 25 percent increase in marijuana use by 
        the general population; and
Whereas parents, youth, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies, religious 
        institutions (faith-based organizations), service organizations, senior 
        citizens, medical and military personnel, sports teams, and individuals 
        throughout the United States will demonstrate their commitment to 
        healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles by wearing and displaying 
        red ribbons during this week-long celebration: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week;
            (2) encourages children and teens to choose to live drug-
        free lives; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to promote 
        the creation of drug-free communities and to participate in 
        drug prevention activities to show support for healthy, 
        productive, and drug-free lifestyles.
                                 <all>