Recognizing the importance of "National Drug Facts Chat Day" on November 10, 2009.

Whereas the National Institute on Drug Abuse created National Drug Facts Chat Day to provide the opportunity for school-aged youth and teachers in classrooms across the United States to ask questions of the Nation’s leading experts in the field of drug abuse and addiction;

Whereas, on October 12, 2007, the first annual Drug Facts Chat Day yielded over 35,000 questions from school-aged youth across the United States, providing accurate information on drug abuse and addiction;

Whereas the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows that in 2007 nearly 8 percent of United States youth aged 12–17 met diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence (addiction) to illegal drugs or alcohol;

Whereas the Monitoring the Future Study has yielded encouraging news of generally declining youth past-month illicit drug use rates, a 24-percent decline from 2001 to 2008 by students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades combined;

Whereas declines in youth cigarette smoking, now at its lowest rate since the Monitoring the Future Survey began its measurements in 1975, will translate into decreases in deaths associated with the myriad medical consequences of smoking;

Whereas while progress continues to be made, troubling trends still abound, including widespread abuse of prescription drugs among United States youth;

Whereas research shows that as perceived risk associated with drug abuse increases, its abuse decreases;

Whereas youth often get information about drugs, drug abuse, and addiction from unreliable and inaccurate sources; and

Whereas “National Drug Facts Chat Day” is on November 10, 2009: Now, therefore, be it