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