Bill Text: CA SR36 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relative to prescription drug abuse awareness
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-28 - Read. Adopted. (Ayes 28. Noes 0. Page 2998.) [SR36 Detail]
Download: California-2013-SR36-Enrolled.html
BILL NUMBER: SR 36 ENROLLED
BILL TEXT
ADOPTED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2014
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY FEBRUARY 19, 1950
AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 25, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Senator Walters
MARCH 17, 2014
Relative to prescription drug abuse awareness
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST
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 to consumers or for 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.
