The American Medicine Chest Challenge

Lansing, MI: Michigan Legislators Declare Nov. 13 AMCC Day

Reps. Miller, Ball, Barnett, Lisa Brown, Terry Brown, Constan, Espinoza, Robert Jones, LeBlanc, Liss, Lori, Neumann, Pearce, Sheltrown, Slavens, Tyler and Valentine offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 338.

A resolution to declare November 13, 2010, as American Medicine Chest Challenge Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Every day, on average, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time; and

Whereas, One in seven teens admits to abusing prescription drugs to get high in the past year; and

Whereas, Sixty-three percent of teens believe that prescriptions drugs are "much safer"

than illegal drugs and three in ten teens do not understand that prescription pain relievers are addictive; and

Whereas, Fifty-six percent of teens believe that prescription drugs are easier to get thanillicit drugs; and

Whereas, Abuse of prescription drugs is dangerous and can result in addiction and other serious consequences, including seizure, cardiac arrest, and death; and

Whereas, Prescription drugs are responsible for more overdose deaths than "street drugs" such as cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines; and

Whereas, Pharmaceutical drugs in varying concentrations have been found in our nation's water supplies due to improper disposal; and

Whereas, The American Medicine Chest Challenge is a public health initiative to raiseawareness about the dangers of prescription drug abuse and provide a day of disposal of unused,unwanted, and expired medicine in communities across the country; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare November 13, 2010, as American Medicine Chest Challenge Day in the state of Michigan.