A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Red Ribbon Week, 2012.

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established to commemorate the service of Enrique Kiki Camarena, a special agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration for 11 years who was murdered in the line of duty in 1985 while engaged in the battle against illicit drugs;

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign was established by the National Family Partnership to preserve the memory of Special Agent Camarena and further the cause for which he gave his life;

Whereas the Red Ribbon Campaign has been nationally recognized since 1988 and is now the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the United States, reaching millions of young people each year during Red Ribbon Week;

Whereas the Drug Enforcement Administration, established in 1973, aggressively targets organizations involved in the growing, manufacturing, and distribution of controlled substances and has been a steadfast partner in commemorating Red Ribbon Week;

Whereas the Governors and attorneys general of the States, the National Family Partnership, Parent Teacher Associations, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, PRIDE Youth Programs, Young Marines, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and hundreds of other organizations throughout the United States annually celebrate Red Ribbon Week during the period of October 23 through October 31;

Whereas the objective of Red Ribbon Week is to promote the creation of drug-free communities through drug prevention efforts, education, parental involvement, and community-wide support;

Whereas drug abuse is one of the major challenges that the United States faces in securing a safe and healthy future for families in the United States;

Whereas drug abuse and alcohol abuse contribute to domestic violence and sexual assault and place the lives of children at risk;

Whereas emerging drug threats and growing epidemics demand attention, with a particular focus on prescription medications, the second most abused drug by young people in the United States, and synthetic drugs;

Whereas, since the majority of teenagers abusing prescription medications get the medications from family, friends, and home medicine cabinets, the Drug Enforcement Administration will host a National Take Back Day on September 29, 2012, for the public to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription medications that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse;

Whereas synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or Spice, has become especially popular, particularly among teenagers and young adults, and in 2011 poison centers across the United States responded to about 6,960 calls related to synthetic marijuana, up from approximately 2,900 calls in 2010;

Whereas Congress recently enacted the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act (Public Law 112–144; 126 Stat. 993), which adds 26 synthetic drugs to the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), including the drugs commonly found in products marketed as K2, Spice, and bath salts; and

Whereas parents, young people, schools, businesses, law enforcement agencies, religious institutions, service organizations, senior citizens, medical and military personnel, sports teams, and individuals throughout the United States will demonstrate their commitment to healthy, productive, and drug-free lifestyles by wearing and displaying red ribbons during the week-long celebration of Red Ribbon Week: Now, therefore, be it