[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 20, 2019)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 10397-10398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05472]



[[Page 10395]]

Vol. 84

Wednesday,

No. 54

March 20, 2019

Part II





The President





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Proclamation 9850--National Poison Prevention Week, 2019
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  Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 54 / Wednesday, March 20, 2019 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 10397]]

                Proclamation 9850 of March 15, 2019

                
National Poison Prevention Week, 2019

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                During National Poison Prevention Week, we raise 
                awareness about the reality of unintentional poisoning 
                in America, and we recommit to educating all Americans 
                about how best to prevent tragedy from striking our 
                loved ones and our communities. More than 90 percent of 
                accidental poisonings occur in the home, and children 
                are particularly vulnerable. Each year, an average of 
                85,000 children visit emergency rooms across our Nation 
                to receive care after exposure to poison. We all share 
                a responsibility to keep harmful items, including 
                dangerous medications, cosmetics, household cleaning 
                supplies, laundry detergent, pesticides, and batteries, 
                out of sight and out of the reach of children. ``Take 
                Back Day'' events, which encourage Americans to dispose 
                of potentially harmful medications, among other 
                substances, are also great opportunities for Americans 
                to participate in the broader effort to reduce the 
                number of accidental poisonings in our country.

                Tragically, our Nation's opioid epidemic has only added 
                to the number of unintentional poisoning deaths. To 
                address this growing crisis, I announced my Initiative 
                to Stop Opioid Abuse, which is aimed at reducing the 
                demand for drugs through education, awareness, and 
                preventing over-prescription. My Administration has 
                also worked with the Congress to secure more than $6 
                billion in funding to help combat the drug abuse and 
                opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment and 
                recovery services, interdiction, and law enforcement 
                efforts. Additionally, I signed into law the SUPPORT 
                Act, the largest legislative effort in history to 
                address a single drug crisis. This legislation enhances 
                patient access to non-opioid treatment options, 
                increases access to drug disposal, and provides support 
                for those caring for babies prenatally exposed to 
                drugs.

                Data from the Monitoring the Future study and the 
                National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that 
                the misuse of opioid medications among youth has 
                declined in recent years. These encouraging findings 
                are a sign that real progress is being made to educate 
                our young people on the dangers of prescription drug 
                misuse. Much work remains to be done, however, to 
                address the misuse of prescription opioids and the use 
                of illegal drugs in our communities. All Americans, 
                both young and old, should familiarize themselves with 
                safe practices for prescription drug use and should 
                apply these important practices to their daily 
                routines.

                This week, and always, I implore all Americans to 
                remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their 
                families from unintended exposure to poisons, and to 
                take the steps necessary to reduce the availability of 
                potentially harmful substances. By making prevention a 
                priority, we can help avoid the devastating 
                consequences often caused by unintentional poisonings 
                and drug overdoses.

                To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers 
                of unintentional poisonings and to take appropriate 
                preventative measures, on September 26, 1961, the 
                Congress, by joint resolution (75 Stat. 681), 
                authorized and requested the President to issue a 
                proclamation designating the third week of March each 
                year as ``National Poison Prevention Week.''

[[Page 10398]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 17, 
                2019, through March 23, 2019, to be National Poison 
                Prevention Week. I call upon all Americans to observe 
                this week by taking actions to safeguard their families 
                from poisonous products, chemicals, medicines, and 
                drugs found in their homes, and to raise awareness 
                about these dangers in order to prevent accidental 
                injuries and deaths.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2019-05472
Filed 3-19-19; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P