Amended in Senate March 25, 2014

Senate Resolution No. 36

Introduced by Senator Walters

March 17, 2014

Senate Resolution No. 36—Relative to prescription drug abuse awareness.

WHEREAS, More deaths were 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
resulted in 38,329 deaths, of which 22,134 were from prescription
drugs; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, an estimated 22.5 million Americans who
are 12 years of age or older indicated in response to a survey that
they had used an illicit drug or abused a prescription drug in the
previous month; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits
were related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals, which is an
increase of 98.4 percent from 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 deaths caused by 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, The 2013 National Drug Control Strategy listed
four interventions to reduce prescription drug abuse, one of which
is to provide safe drug disposal by increasing the number of
take-back programs begin delete to provide a well-publicized statewide
medication take-back system that is much more convenient to
consumers than the current one-day events end delete begin insert to consumers end insert or begin insert for end insert
disposal at hazardous waste facilities; and

WHEREAS, During the last seven of the National Prescription
Drug Take-Back Days operated by the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), a total of 3.4 million pounds of medication
were removed from circulation and potential diversion by the DEA
and its state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community
partners; and

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

WHEREAS, The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug
Abuse (NCAPDA) was established to help reduce the number of
deaths and addictions caused by prescription drug abuse, through
implementing a nationwide awareness campaign, initiating and
supporting pertinent legislative actions, and through partnerships
with educational, medical, law enforcement, and other appropriate
entities; and

WHEREAS, NCAPDA links existing community based entities
throughout the United States under NCAPDA to share best
practices, develop and share useful material resources, and establish
and implement a cohesive, nationwide awareness campaign
regarding the dangers of prescription drug abuse; and

WHEREAS, Families, schools, businesses, faith-based
communities, law enforcement, medical professionals, county and
local governments, health care practitioners, pharmacists, 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; now,
therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate
declares March 2014, as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness
Month, and encourages all citizens to participate in prevention
programs and activities, and to safely store and dispose of their
medications; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.