S. C. R. No. 39 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

S. C. R. No. 39

Senator Burke

Cosponsors: Senators Eklund, Lehner, Hughes, Brown, Manning, Patton, Hite, Beagle, Oelslager, Widener

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To designate October 2014 as "Start Talking Month." 1

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, Drug and alcohol abuse and dependence constitute a 2
widespread epidemic in the United States that afflicts 23 million 3
Americans, 11 million of whom are between the ages of 12 and 29; 4
and 5

       WHEREAS, Drug overdose has become the leading cause of 6
accidental death in Ohio, surpassing traffic accidents; and 7

       WHEREAS, Nine out of ten people who meet the medical criteria 8
for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence started smoking, drinking, 9
or using other drugs before the age of 18; and 10

       WHEREAS, By the eighth grade, 28 per cent of adolescents have 11
consumed alcohol, 15 per cent have smoked cigarettes, and 16.5 per 12
cent have used marihuana; and 13

       WHEREAS, A majority of substance-free adolescents credit 14
their parents for the decision not to use illegal substances, and 15
school leaders can have a similar influence; and 16

       WHEREAS, Children who learn about the risks of drugs through 17
discussions at home are up to 50 per cent less likely to use 18
drugs, yet only 37 per cent of children have those discussions 19
with their parents; and 20

       WHEREAS, Governor John Kasich and First Lady Karen Kasich 21
have launched Start Talking! to give parents, guardians, 22
educators, and community leaders the tools to start the 23
conversation with Ohio's youth about the importance of living 24
healthy, drug-free lives; now therefore be it 25

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 26
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, designate 27
October 2014 as "Start Talking Month"; and be it further 28

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 29
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Governor and to the 30
news media of Ohio. 31

WHEREAS, Drug and alcohol abuse and dependence constitute a	2
widespread epidemic in the United States that afflicts 23 million	3
Americans, 11 million of whom are between the ages of 12 and 29;	4
and	5

WHEREAS, Drug overdose has become the leading cause of	6
accidental death in Ohio, surpassing traffic accidents; and	7

WHEREAS, Nine out of ten people who meet the medical criteria	8
for drug or alcohol abuse or dependence started smoking, drinking,	9
or using other drugs before the age of 18; and	10

WHEREAS, By the eighth grade, 28 per cent of adolescents have	11
consumed alcohol, 15 per cent have smoked cigarettes, and 16.5 per	12
cent have used marihuana; and	13

WHEREAS, A majority of substance-free adolescents credit	14
their parents for the decision not to use illegal substances, and	15
school leaders can have a similar influence; and	16

WHEREAS, Children who learn about the risks of drugs through	17
discussions at home are up to 50 per cent less likely to use	18
drugs, yet only 37 per cent of children have those discussions	19
with their parents; and	20

WHEREAS, Governor John Kasich and First Lady Karen Kasich	21
have launched Start Talking! to give parents, guardians,	22
educators, and community leaders the tools to start the	23
conversation with Ohio's youth about the importance of living	24
healthy, drug-free lives; now therefore be it	25

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	26
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, designate	27
October 2014 as "Start Talking Month"; and be it further	28

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly	29
authenticated copies of this resolution to the Governor and to the	30
news media of Ohio.	31