By:  Moncrief                                          S.R. No. 531
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the Office of
    1-3  the Governor and the Texas Prevention Partnership in recognizing
    1-4  March 19 through 25, 1995, as Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week;
    1-5  and
    1-6        WHEREAS, The Texas Prevention Partnership is launching an
    1-7  educational program to take place this week that will enlighten
    1-8  parents, teachers, and youth workers about inhalant and poison
    1-9  misuse; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Easily obtainable, inexpensive, and difficult to
   1-11  detect, inhalants are often the first substance many young people
   1-12  try and are considered "gateway" drugs that lead to further illicit
   1-13  drug abuse; and
   1-14        WHEREAS, A 1994 survey of Texas students indicates that 20
   1-15  percent of seventh graders have sniffed or inhaled some common
   1-16  household product, making inhalants the third most abused substance
   1-17  after alcohol and tobacco; the toxic impact of inhalants on the body
   1-18  may be greater than alcohol and other drugs because the body retains
   1-19  the chemical components of inhalants longer; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, First-time inhalant users have collapsed and died
   1-21  from powerful adrenaline surges that short-circuit the heart, and
   1-22  permanent brain, kidney, liver, lung, and bone marrow damage can
   1-23  develop; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, More than 1,000 legal products can be inhaled to
    2-2  "get high" and every year hundreds of people die from inhalant use,
    2-3  but many parents and educators remain ignorant of this silent
    2-4  epidemic; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, Parents and educators are often unwitting suppliers
    2-6  of inhalants, failing to become suspicious when typewriter
    2-7  correction fluid or household glue or solvent disappears; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, All Texans should be made aware of the potential
    2-9  harm a multitude of products in our homes can cause if they are
   2-10  misused; gasoline, hair spray, spray paint, and cleaning products
   2-11  can be fatal if misused; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Due to continuing efforts of the Texas Prevention
   2-13  Partnership, inhalant use in Texas has been reduced while national
   2-14  use continues to rise; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, The 50 organizations that comprise the Texas
   2-16  Prevention Partnership are to be lauded for their meritorious
   2-17  efforts on behalf of the children of Texas; and
   2-18        WHEREAS, All Texans should be encouraged to support the
   2-19  efforts of the Texas Prevention Partnership and educate themselves
   2-20  about inhalant and poison abuse; now, therefore, be it
   2-21        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-22  74th Legislature, hereby recognize March 19 through 25, 1995,
   2-23  as Inhalant and Poison Awareness Week; and, be it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-25  Texas Prevention Partnership as an expression of support from
    3-1  the Texas Senate.
    3-2                               ______________________________________
    3-3                                       President of the Senate
    3-4                                    I hereby certify that the above
    3-5                               Resolution was adopted by the Senate
    3-6                               on March 23, 1995.
    3-7                               ______________________________________
    3-8                                       Secretary of the Senate
    3-9                               ______________________________________
   3-10                                        Member, Texas Senate