[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2976-S2977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DESIGNATING MARCH 21 THROUGH MARCH 27, 1999, AS ``NATIONAL INHALANTS 
                      AND POISONS AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 47 
be discharged from the Judiciary Committee, and further, that the 
Senate now proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 47) designating the week of March 21 
     through 27, 1999, as ``National Inhalants and Poisons 
     Awareness Week.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be upon the table, and that any statements relating to S. 
Res. 47 appear in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 47) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               S. Res. 47

       Whereas the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition has 
     declared the week of March 21 through March 27, 1999, 
     ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week''.
       Whereas inhalant abuse is nearing epidemic proportions, 
     with almost 20 percent of all youths admitting to 
     experimenting with inhalants by the time they graduate from 
     high school, and only 4 percent of parents suspecting their 
     children of inhalant use;
       Whereas according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 
     inhalant use ranks third behind the use of alcohol and 
     tobacco for all youths through the eighth grade;

[[Page S2977]]

       Whereas the over 1,000 products that are being inhaled to 
     get high are legal, inexpensive, and found in nearly every 
     home and every corner market;
       Whereas using inhalants only once can lead to kidney 
     failure, brain damage, and even death;
       Whereas inhalants are considered a gateway drug, leading to 
     the use of harder, more deadly drugs; and
       Whereas because inhalant use is difficult to detect, the 
     products used are accessible and affordable, and abuse is so 
     common, increased education of young people and their parents 
     regarding the dangers of inhalants is an important step in 
     our battle against drug abuse: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of March 21 through March 27, 1999, 
     as ``National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week'';
       (2) encourages parents to learn about the dangers of 
     inhalant abuse and to discuss those dangers with their 
     children; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and 
     activities.

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