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