BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SR 36|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SR 36
Author: Walters (R)
Amended: 3/25/14
Vote: Majority
SUBJECT : Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution declares March 2014 as Prescription
Drug Abuse Awareness Month.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1. More deaths were caused by drug overdoses in 2010 than
traffic accidents among people 25 to 64 years of age; and
drug overdoses in the United States resulted in 38,329
deaths, of which 22,134 were from prescription drugs.
2. 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.
3. In 2009, 1.2 million emergency department visits were
related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals, which is an
increase of 98.4% from 2004. Overdose deaths involving
opioid pain relievers now exceed deaths caused by heroin and
cocaine combined.
CONTINUED
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4. As many as 70% of people who abuse prescription drugs get
them from a relative or friend instead of a doctor.
5. 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 to consumers or for disposal at hazardous
waste facilities.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse 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.
9. 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.
This resolution 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.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SR 36
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JL:nl 3/27/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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