S.Res. 466 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 466 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 3, 2014 Ms. Ayotte (for herself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the week of October 27 through November 2, 2014, as National Drug Take-Back Week, and designating October 2014 as National Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month. Whereas prescription opioids can play an integral role in proper pain management and treatment of health conditions; Whereas when no longer needed or wanted for legitimate pain management or health treatment, prescription opioids are susceptible to diversion; Whereas prescription opioids may be abused by individuals who were not prescribed such drugs or misused by individuals not taking such drugs as directed; Whereas prescription opioid pain relievers are powerful, regulated drugs that, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, attach to the same cell receptors as heroin; Whereas prescription opioids, when used improperly or not taken as prescribed, can be addictive; Whereas scientific studies indicate a link between prescription opioid abuse and potential future heroin use and addiction; Whereas compared to prescription opioids, heroin is a cheaper drug and becoming more readily available; Whereas deaths from heroin overdoses have significantly increased in communities across the United States; Whereas addiction and overdoses take lives, ruin families, and fuel rising crime rates in communities across the United States; Whereas drug take-back programs allow for the collection and safe disposal of unwanted or unused drugs; and Whereas drug take-back days are held infrequently: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) encourages a continuous national dialogue on efforts to combat prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction; (2) supports a holistic approach to addressing prescription opioid and heroin abuse, including through law enforcement and first responder initiatives, international drug interdiction, and treatment, recovery, prevention, and education efforts; (3) recognizes the commitment of Federal, State, and local law enforcement personnel, first responders, firefighters, treatment providers, researchers, prescribers, pharmacists, dispensers, medical boards, manufacturers, and community organizations to addressing prescription opioid abuse and heroin addiction; (4) supports the goals of drug take-back efforts by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the State, local, and tribal law enforcement partners of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and encourages the expansion of such efforts; (5) designates the week of October 27 through November 2, 2014, as National Drug Take-Back Week; (6) encourages media organizations to bring awareness to prescription opioid and heroin use, particularly among the youth in the United States; and (7) designates October 2014 as National Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month.