1-1                                       1

 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 421

 1-3           WHEREAS, Alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are major

 1-4     problems plaguing our society today, and the number of Americans

 1-5     using these drugs is increasing at an alarming rate; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, The staggering costs of drug abuse in terms of

 1-7     human suffering and monetary loss affects all of us, and only

 1-8     through a concerted effort by parents, schools, private

 1-9     institutions, and governmental bodies can the growing number of

1-10     drug users be reversed; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Far from being a panacea for individual problems,

1-12     the use of alcohol and drugs can lead to deadly diseases; their

1-13     use has been closely related to the occurrence of sexually

1-14     transmitted illnesses as well as unwanted pregnancies, fetal

1-15     deaths, birth defects, and mental disorders; and

1-16           WHEREAS, Children are especially at risk in homes where

1-17     drugs are used; they suffer from problems arising out of criminal

1-18     behavior; physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; substance abuse;

1-19     and behavioral difficulties; and

1-20           WHEREAS, Estimates of the health care costs associated

1-21     with alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are placed at over $90

1-22     billion; every man, woman, and child in the United States pays

1-23     nearly $1,000 every year to cover the expenditures resulting

 2-1     from substance abuse, including loss of productivity, crime,

 2-2     auto accidents, and increased law enforcement; and

 2-3           WHEREAS, Prevention programs have been shown to be far

 2-4     less expensive and by far the most effective approach in

 2-5     dealing with this critical social problem; educational programs

 2-6     that target young people, who are receptive to such efforts, are

 2-7     especially cogent; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, While tobacco advertising and prolegalization

 2-9     efforts for drug use have become more pronounced, funding for

2-10     prevention programs has been substantially reduced in recent

2-11     years; and

2-12           WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

2-13     school survey and the 1994 Monitoring the Future survey confirmed

2-14     that the recent increase in substance abuse rates corresponds to

2-15     these developments; and

2-16           WHEREAS, A renewed dedication by all Texans is necessary

2-17     to reverse the ever-increasing use of addictive drugs among our

2-18     citizens, and the use of successful preventive programs should be

2-19     encouraged and supported; now, therefore, be it

2-20           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-21     75th Legislature, hereby recognize April 2, 1997, as Alcohol,

2-22     Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse Prevention Day at the State Capitol

2-23     in an effort to encourage our citizens to continue their efforts

2-24     to eradicate the use of such drugs from our society.

2-25                                                                Moncrief

 3-1                                  ______________________________________

 3-2                                          President of the Senate

 3-3                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-4                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-5                                  on April 1, 1997.

 3-6                                  ______________________________________

 3-7                                          Secretary of the Senate

 3-8                                  ______________________________________

 3-9                                           Member, Texas Senate