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HR-25 (2011-2012)

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HR25:v98#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  March 29, 2012

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2011–2012 REGULAR SESSION

House Resolution
No. 25

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Buchanan
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Block, Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Butler, Campos, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fong, Furutani, Beth Gaines, Galgiani, Gatto, Gordon, Grove, Hagman, Halderman, Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Hueso, Huffman, Jeffries, Lara, Logue, Ma, Mansoor, Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Olsen, Pan, Perea, John A. Pérez, V. Manuel Pérez, Skinner, Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams, Yamada)

March 08, 2012

Relative to Prescription Drug Awareness Month.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


HR 25, as amended, Buchanan.
WHEREAS, In 2008, drug overdoses in the United States caused 36,450 deaths and 20,044 of these were from prescription drug overdoses; and
WHEREAS, Overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers have increased and now exceed deaths involving heroin and cocaine combined; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits were related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals (an increase of 98.4 percent since 2004); and
WHEREAS, Nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers costs insurance companies up to $72.5 billion annually in health care costs; and
WHEREAS, By 2010, enough prescription painkillers were sold to medicate every American adult with a typical dose of five mg of hydrocodone every four hours for one month; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, 2 million people reported using prescription painkillers nonmedically for the first time within the last year—nearly 5,500 a day; and
WHEREAS, As many as 70 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from a relative or friend instead of a doctor; and
WHEREAS, The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations, alcohol and other drugs service providers, and civic and business leaders, coordinates Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month activities to offer our citizens the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to campaigns and education aimed at raising awareness about the abuse or misuse of prescription drugs, promoting prescription drug safe storage and disposal, and using medications only as prescribed; and
WHEREAS, Families, schools, businesses, faith-based communities, law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, county and local governments, health care practitioners, pharmacists, and the general public throughout the state will demonstrate their commitment to the prevention of prescription medication abuse by participating in activities intended to highlight local efforts during the month of March; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly does hereby declare March 2012 as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month, and encourages all citizens to participate in prevention programs and activities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Assembly encourages all community members to “Spread the Word … One Pill Can Kill”; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.