WHEREAS, There were more deaths caused by drug overdoses in 2010 than traffic accidents among people 25 to 64 years of age; and

WHEREAS, In 2010, drug overdoses in the United States of America caused 38,329 deaths and 22,134 of those deaths were from prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, an estimated 22.5 million Americans 12 years of age or older used an illicit drug or abused a prescription drug in the past month; 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 prescription painkillers costs health insurers up to $72.5 billion annually in direct health care costs; and

WHEREAS, Overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers now exceed more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined; 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, During the last seven National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, a total of 3.4 million pounds of medication were removed from circulation and potential diversion by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and community partners; and

WHEREAS, The 2013 National Drug Control Study listed four interventions to reduce prescription drug abuse, one of which was to provide safe drug disposal by increasing return and take-back programs. We support California acquiring a sustainably funded and well publicized statewide medication take-back system that is much more convenient to consumers than the current one-day events or disposal at hazardous waste facilities; and

WHEREAS, The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, law enforcement, community-based organizations, alcohol and other drug service providers, and civic and business leaders coordinate Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month activities in California to engage our citizens in demonstrating their commitment to prevention campaigns and education aimed at raising awareness about the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs, promoting prescription drug safe storing and disposal, and using medications only as prescribed; and

WHEREAS, Families, schools, businesses, faith-based communities, law enforcement, medical professionals, county and local governments, health care practitioners, and pharmacists in the state, and the general public 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; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature supports April 26, 2014, as National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day as declared by the DEA, and encourage residents to locate their local collection site and safely dispose of their accumulated unwanted and unused prescription drugs; now, therefore, be it