Whereas, According to a study by the Partners hip for a Drug Free America today’s young people are more likely to abuse prescription a nd over the counter drugs than illegal drugs, and

Whereas, Young people think that abusing these drugs to get high is “safer” than abusing illegal drugs; and

Whereas, A study from the Federal Drug Ad ministration (FDA) shows many people buy drugs online, not to save money, but to bypass the need for a prescription from their doctor; and 

Whereas, Drugs purchased online may not c ontain the correct ingredients and could contain toxic substances; and 

Whereas, According to a 2004 study conducted by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), emergency room patients, aged 12 to 20, accounted for almost half of all the emergency room visits resulting from nonmedi cal use of dextromethorphan; therefore, be it

Resolved, That the National PTA and its constituent organizations encourage and support educational and prevention programs regarding the dangers of misuse and/or abuse of prescription and non-prescription (over the counter) drugs. These programs should include a parent or caregivers’ component that reinforces the facts about substance abuse and the harmful effects; and be it further

Resolved, That the National PTA and its c onstituent organizations educate parents, students, teachers, administrators an d community members on the effects and consequences of prescription drugs taken by a person other than the person for whom the drug is prescribed and the use of non-prescrip tion (over the counter) drugs in a manner or amount not included in the “directions for use” instructions or in conflict with the intended use for that medication, and be it further 

Resolved, That National PTA and its constitu ent organizations advocate for and support legislation making it unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, cause another to sell, or conspire to sell drugs such as dextromet horphan which may be harmful when consumed for non-medical use to an individual under th e age of 18 years including any such sale using the Internet.