[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 SENATE RESOLUTION 389--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF MARCH 9, 2014, THROUGH 
  MARCH 15, 2014, AS ``NATIONAL YOUTH SYNTHETIC DRUG AWARENESS WEEK''

  Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. Grassley, and Mrs. Feinstein) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 389

       Whereas around the United States, there have been many 
     incidents of violent acts, some leading to serious injury and 
     death, committed by people under the influence of synthetic 
     drugs;
       Whereas the effects of synthetic drugs on their users 
     include elevated heart rate and blood pressure, 
     hallucinations, seizures, and extreme agitation;
       Whereas a lack of public understanding of the potential 
     harm of synthetic drugs makes raising public awareness about 
     the dangers posed by such drugs extremely important;
       Whereas deceptive marketing by sellers of synthetic drugs 
     and easy access to synthetic drugs online and in many 
     convenience stores create a false perception, particularly 
     among youth, that synthetic drugs are legal and safer than 
     street drugs;
       Whereas in 2010, 18-year-old David Rozga of Indianola, Iowa 
     committed suicide shortly after ingesting a synthetic drug 
     called ``K2'', making his death one of the first in the 
     United States linked to synthetic drugs;
       Whereas March 17, 2014, marks the third anniversary of the 
     tragic death of 19-year-old Trevor Robinson, who overdosed on 
     a synthetic drug called ``2C-E'' at a house party in Blaine, 
     Minnesota;
       Whereas in addition to Trevor Robinson, 10 other teens and 
     young adults at the same house party had to be rushed to 
     hospitals after snorting the same drug, illustrating the 
     urgent need to raise awareness among youth about the dangers 
     of synthetic drugs;
       Whereas according to the 2012 Monitoring the Future survey 
     of youth drug-use trends, 1 in every 9 United States high 
     school seniors surveyed admitted to using synthetic marijuana 
     in the past year;
       Whereas according to a 2013 report by the Substance Abuse 
     and Mental Health Administration Drug Abuse Warning Network, 
     there were 28,531 emergency department visits involving a 
     synthetic cannabinoid product and 22,904 emergency department 
     visits involving bath salts in 2011; and
       Whereas educating the public, and especially our youth, on 
     the dangers of synthetic drugs and promoting prevention of 
     synthetic drug abuse are critical components of what must be 
     a multi-pronged effort to curb synthetic drug abuse: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of March 9, 2014, through March 15, 
     2014, as ``National Youth Synthetic Drug Awareness Week''; 
     and
       (2) urges communities to carry out appropriate programs and 
     activities to educate parents and youth about the dangers 
     associated with synthetic drug abuse.

                          ____________________