BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SCR 8
Author: DeSaulnier (D), et al.
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SUBJECT : Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution proclaims the month of March,
each year, as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month and
encourages all citizens to participate in prevention
programs and activities and to pledge to "Spread the
Word?One Pill Can Kill."
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1. In 2008, drug overdoses in the United States caused
36,450 deaths and 20,044 of these were from prescription
drug overdoses.
2. Overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers (OPR)
have increased and now exceed deaths involving heroin
and cocaine combined.
3. In 2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits were
related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals (an
increase of 98.4 percent since 2004).
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4. Nonmedical use of OPR costs insurance companies up to
$72.5 billion annually in health care costs.
5. 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.
6. In 2010, two million people reported using prescription
painkillers nonmedically for the first time within the
last year, nearly 5,500 a day.
7. As many as 70 percent of people who abuse prescription
drugs get them from a relative or friend instead of a
doctor.
8. 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.
9. 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.
This resolution proclaims the month of March, each year, as
Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month and encourages all
citizens to participate in prevention programs and
activities and to pledge to "Spread the Word?One Pill Can
Kill."
Prior Legislation
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HR 25 (Buchanan, 2012), the State Assembly declared March
2012 as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month. Read and
adopted by the Assembly on March 29, 2012.
SR 26 (Hancock, Anderson, DeSaulnier, 2012), the State
Senate declared March 2012 as Prescription Drug Abuse
Awareness Month. Read and adopted by the Senate on March
29, 2012.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
AL:d 1/23/13 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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