BILL NUMBER: SCR 8	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator DeSaulnier
   (Coauthors: Senators Hancock, Lieu, and Price)

                        JANUARY 14, 2013

   Relative to Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 8, as introduced, DeSaulnier. Prescription Drug Abuse
Awareness Month
   This measure would proclaim the month of March, each year, as
Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month and encourage all citizens to
participate in prevention programs and activities and to pledge to
"Spread the Word ... One Pill Can Kill."
   Fiscal committee: no.



   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 (OPR)
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 OPR 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 milligrams
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 drug 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 and misuse of prescription drugs, promoting
safe storage and disposal of prescription drugs, 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, 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 Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the month of March, each year, is hereby be
proclaimed to be Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month and that all
citizens are encouraged to participate in prevention programs and
activities and to pledge to "Spread the Word ...  One Pill Can Kill";
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.