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Agenda Item No. 5(B) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION March 2015 is Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month WHEREAS, drug overdose was the leading cause of injury death in 2012 and among those 25 to 64 years old caused more deaths than motor vehicle traffic accidents and in 2013 drug overdoses in the United States caused 42,982 unintentional deaths and 22,767 of those were from prescription drugs and in 2011, an estimated 22.5 million Americans aged 12 or older used an illicit drug or abused a prescription drug in the past month; and WHEREAS, in 2011, 1.4 million emergency department visits were related to misuse or abuse of pharmaceuticals; and WHEREAS, non-medical use of prescription painkillers costs health insurers up to $72.5 billion annually in direct health-care costs; and WHEREAS, overdose deaths involving opioid pain relievers now exceed more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined and as many as 70% of people who abuse prescription drugs get them from a relative or friend instead of a doctor; and WHEREAS, during the nine National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, a total of 4.8 million pounds (2,411 tons) of medication has been removed by the Drug Enforcement Agency and its state, local, tribal law-enforcement and community partners from circulation and potential diversion; and WHEREAS, the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse, RxSafe Contra Costa, and the City of El Cerrito in cooperation with the law enforcement, community based organizations, alcohol and other drug service providers and civic and business leaders engage our residents in demonstrating their commitment to prevention campaigns and education aimed at raising awareness about the abuse/misuse of prescription drugs, promoting prescription drug safe storing and disposal and using medications only as prescribed; and WHEREAS, families, schools, businesses, faith-based communities, law enforcement, medical professionals, county and local governments, health care practitioners and pharmacists of the City of El Cerrito and the general public are encouraged to demonstrate their commitment to the prevention of prescription medication abuse. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito does hereby recognize March, 2015 as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month as enacted by state law in April, 2013, and encourages all residents to actively participate in prevention programs and activities and safely store and dispose of their medications on a continual basis. The City Council encourages all community members to pledge, “Spread the Word…One Pill Can Kill.” Dated: March 17, 2015 Mark Friedman, Mayor