[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG AWARENESS 
                                 MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the importance of National Prescription Drug Awareness 
Month.
  Throughout California, March is recognized as National Prescription 
Drug Awareness Month. The purpose of this initiative is to increase 
community awareness about the dangers that many medications may pose if 
not used properly.
  Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared 
prescription drug abuse to be a national epidemic. In 2008, 
approximately 20,000 people died from prescription drug overdoses. In 
2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits were related to misuse or 
abuse of pharmaceuticals. These numbers are tragic and unacceptable, 
and we must make every effort to address the issue.
  Fortunately, the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, 
NCAPDA, is leading the effort to combat this epidemic. NCPDA is hosting 
a variety of events in California this month to help raise awareness 
and public engagement in the battle against prescription drug abuse. 
Education plays a critical role helping children, young adults, and 
their parents to avoid prescription drug abuse, and education serves an 
important first step to combating this serious problem.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the important work of 
the NCAPDA and the role National Prescription Drug Awareness Month can 
play in preventing the loss of loved ones across the country.

                          ____________________