[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 313--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT A 
   NATIONAL METHAMPHETAMINE PREVENTION WEEK SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO 
INCREASE AWARENESS OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON WAYS 
           TO HELP PREVENT THE USE OF THAT DAMAGING NARCOTIC

   Ms. CANTWELL submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 313

       Whereas methamphetamine is a highly addictive, man-made 
     drug that can be injected, snorted, smoked, or ingested 
     orally, the effects of which include feelings of euphoria 
     that last for up to 24 hours and psychotic behavior such as 
     auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, delusions, and 
     paranoia, potentially causing the user to experience 
     homicidal or suicidal thoughts as well as violent behavior 
     and brain damage;
       Whereas the number of admissions to treatment in which 
     methamphetamine was the primary substance of abuse increased 
     exponentially from 20,776 in 1993 to 116,604 in 2003;
       Whereas methamphetamine is easily produced in clandestine 
     laboratories, known as ``meth labs'', using a variety of 
     volatile and toxic ingredients available in stores, and 
     presents a danger to the individual preparing the 
     methamphetamine, the community surrounding the laboratory, 
     and the law enforcement personnel who discover the 
     laboratory;
       Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration reports that 
     domestic meth lab seizures have increased from 7,438 in 1999 
     to 17,170 in 2004;
       Whereas studies have found that methamphetamine use is 
     strongly linked to identity theft, domestic violence, overall 
     crime rates, child abuse, and child neglect;
       Whereas the National Association of Counties has conducted 
     surveys with law enforcement and child welfare officials in 
     more than 500 counties, and found that 87 percent of all law 
     enforcement agencies surveyed reported increases in 
     methamphetamine-related arrests in recent years, and 40 
     percent of all the child welfare officials in the survey 
     reported increased out-of-home placements of children due to 
     methamphetamine use;
       Whereas methamphetamine use and production is prevalent 
     around the world;
       Whereas approximately 65 percent of the methamphetamine 
     supply in the United States is trafficked in the form of a 
     finished product from other countries;
       Whereas the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 
     reports that more than 30,000,000 people around the world use 
     amphetamine-type stimulants, a number that eclipses the 
     combined global use of cocaine and heroin;
       Whereas methamphetamine and narcotics task forces, judges, 
     prosecutors, defense attorneys, substance abuse treatment and 
     rehabilitation professionals, law enforcement officials, 
     researchers, students and educators, community leaders, 
     parents, and others dedicated to fighting methamphetamine 
     have a profound influence within their communities; and
       Whereas the establishment of a National Methamphetamine 
     Prevention Week would increase awareness of methamphetamine 
     and educate the public on effective ways to help prevent 
     methamphetamine use at the international, Federal, State, and 
     local levels: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) a National Methamphetamine Prevention Week should be 
     established to increase awareness of methamphetamine and 
     educate the public on effective ways to help prevent 
     methamphetamine use at the international, Federal, State, and 
     local levels; and
       (2) the people of the United States and interested groups 
     should be encouraged to observe National Methamphetamine 
     Prevention Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

                          ____________________