R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, After several years of steady decline, the number of 1-2 Americans using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs is once again 1-3 rising, and Texans must act quickly and decisively to reverse this 1-4 alarming trend; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The consequences of drug abuse are staggering, in 1-6 terms of both financial cost and human suffering; the use of 1-7 alcohol and drugs are closely linked to the occurrence of sexually 1-8 transmitted diseases, including AIDS, as well as unwanted 1-9 pregnancies, fetal deaths, and birth defects; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Health care costs associated with alcohol, tobacco, 1-11 and drug use are estimated at more than $90 billion, and if lost 1-12 productivity, crime, auto accidents, and law enforcement are 1-13 factored into the equation, it can be shown that every man, woman, 1-14 and child in the United States pays nearly $1,000 every year to 1-15 cover the economic burdens imposed by substance abuse; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Studies show that prevention programs are by far the 1-17 least expensive and most effective approach to this pressing social 1-18 problem, and young people are especially receptive to such 1-19 educational efforts; unfortunately, prevention programs have 1-20 experienced a substantial reduction in funding in recent years, 1-21 even as tobacco advertising and prolegalization efforts have become 1-22 more prominent; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Two separate studies, the Texas Commission on 1-24 Alcohol and Drug Abuse school survey and the 1994 Monitoring the 2-1 Future Survey, have confirmed that the recent upswing in substance 2-2 abuse rates coincides with these developments; the best hope for 2-3 reversing this trend is a renewed dedication to the prevention of 2-4 alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse, and such programs are deserving 2-5 of the highest level of support and encouragement; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Texans are united in their commitment to eliminating 2-7 the widespread suffering and economic toll that substance abuse 2-8 wreaks on our society; alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse prevention 2-9 efforts are a sound investment in our future, and as such, they are 2-10 deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-12 Legislature hereby recognize April 2, 1997, as Alcohol, Tobacco, 2-13 and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Day at the State Capitol and 2-14 encourage all Texans to join in its observance. Hernandez _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 487 was adopted by the House on April 2, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House