Washington—Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Caucus Co-Chairman Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today announced Senate passage of a resolution designating October 2011 as “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month.”

The resolution serves to raise awareness of the growing misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

“We cannot simply focus on illegal street drugs, but must also recognize that over–the-counter and prescription drugs can be dangerously easy to obtain and sometimes lethal,” said Senator Feinstein. “We must do a better job educating everyone about the risks of medicine abuse.”

“Prescription drug abuse is an increasing problem among teen-agers,” Senator Grassley said.  “Prescription drugs are so common that a number of teen-agers use other people’s drugs, thinking they’re safe.  This can be dangerous and lead to serious injury.  Parents should educate themselves and their teen-agers about the potential for abuse before it’s too late.”

The designation of “National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month” promotes the message that over-the-counter and prescription medicines should be taken only as labeled or prescribed. Such medicines can have serious or life-threatening consequences when used to get high or in large doses. Safe disposal of unused medications must be encouraged to stop medicines from ending up in the wrong hands.

Click here to read the text of S. Res. 261.

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