Senator Jansen offered the following concurrent resolution:

            Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 28.

            A concurrent resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Community Health, in partnership with physicians, pharmacists, health facilities, and educational institutions, to increase awareness among children, young adults, and parents about the dangers of using prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs prescribed for another person and to encourage parents and adult family members to keep these medications out of a child’s reach.

            Whereas, Household medicine cabinets pose a danger to the health and safety of children and young adults; medicine cabinets may contain a myriad of medications including pain relievers, anti-depressants, and anti-hypertensives that can harm children and teenagers. A child mistakenly may believe that medicine prescribed to a family member is safe for them or may believe that all medicine in the home is risk-free; and

            Whereas, For example, a teenage boy in Rockford, Michigan, died from an allergic reaction to his mother’s pain medication that he took to ease the pain of an injury. Tragically, he was not aware that any use of a pain medication not prescribed to him could have serious consequences; and

            Whereas, Some young people may unfortunately experiment with prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications often found in their home or a friend's home. One example is "skittle parties" where kids take handfuls of a common cold and flu medication and experience hallucinations and other effects. Another example is "trail mix parties" where kids take handfuls of pills from bowls filled with random medications. According to the University of Michigan Monitoring the Future Survey, 3 percent of eighth graders, 7 percent of tenth graders, and about 10 percent of twelfth graders abused prescription drugs in 2006; and

            Whereas, Prescription and OTC medications that are abused or used for non-medical reasons can harm a child's developing brain, can alter brain activity, and can lead to dependence. We need to communicate with our children and young adults that prescription medications, OTC medications, and other common items found in medicine cabinets are potentially dangerous and should not be used without direct permission and supervision; and

            Whereas, To protect the safety of their family, parents must take great care to keep medicines out of their children's reach and to discard any that are no longer required to treat a medical condition so that these substances are not available to be misused; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we urge the Michigan Department of Community Health, in partnership with physicians, pharmacists, health facilities, and educational institutions, to increase awareness among children, young adults, and parents about the dangers of using prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs prescribed for another person and to encourage parents and adult family members to keep these medications out of a child’s reach; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the director of the Michigan Department of Community Health and be made available to all K-12 schools, colleges, universities, educational institutions, physician offices, and health care facilities in the state of Michigan.